Glaucoma is a condition that can impact a patient’s sight in more ways than the realize. The condition is often asymptomatic in the earlier stages, meanings half of patients who have it are unaware of its presence. Glaucoma is a condition that is considered the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, and can impact one’s vision and eye health dramatically.
What is glaucoma?he optic nerve of the eye. When it is left untreated, it can cause permanent blindness. The condition results in high pressure in the eye. Glaucoma does not cause any pain or symptoms until it has reached the later stages, at which vision loss is permanent and irreversible. The later symptoms often seen with glaucoma include:
- Peripheral vision changes
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Vision loss
There are three types of glaucoma, and one of them is closed-angled glaucoma. Also known as acute angle-closure glaucoma, this condition results in a variety of symptoms that may suddenly occur. This includes:
- Eye pain
- Glaucoma is a disease that infects tDilated pupils
- Nausea and vomiting
- Halos
- Headaches
- Vision loss
It is important that patients see a doctor as soon as possible to determine if close angle glaucoma is present. The other types include normal tension glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma, which are typically asymptomatic until tunnel vision occurs. This progression happens over time and gradually in these other varieties.
What increases one’s risk of developing close angle glaucoma?
Glaucoma in general impacts certain patients which increases their particular risk of developing this condition. It has been found that glaucoma impacts African Americans three times more than other ethnicities. This same group is also six times more likely to develop permanent blindness from glaucoma. Additionally, those with a history of glaucoma or diabetes are at a higher risk of developing this condition and experiencing permanent blindness. With routine evaluations, many cases of glaucoma can be caught early on.
Learn more about closed-angle glaucoma
If you are concerned about developing closed-angle glaucoma, or believe you need a proper diagnosis, we encourage you to visit the Eye Care Institute. We have three convenient office locations, and an appointment can be made by calling our main line at (707) 546-9800. We are always accepting new patients into our state-of-the-art facility.