What is the Importance of Lowering Eye Pressure With Glaucoma?
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Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can eventually lead to total blindness, but with proper management and ongoing monitoring, patients with glaucoma can slow the progression of their condition and reduce the risk of further vision loss. At Ticho Eye Associates, proudly serving patients near Chicago Ridge, IL, Tinley Park, IL, and Munster, IN, Dr. Benjamin Ticho is highly skilled at identifying, diagnosing, and managing glaucoma with the most advanced technologies and techniques available today. While there is no “cure” for glaucoma, management treatments and, in some cases, surgery, can help patients preserve and protect their vision for longer. Keep reading to learn more about why lowering eye pressure is such a critical component of glaucoma management.
Who is at risk for glaucoma?
Most patients with glaucoma are over the age of 60. Additional risk factors for glaucoma include a family history of glaucoma, having diabetes, or being African-American. Whether you fall into one of these categories or not, you should still have your ocular health evaluated on a regular basis with a routine eye exam.
How do you know if you have glaucoma?
Unfortunately, glaucoma typically produces no noticeable symptoms until the condition has progressed enough to affect a patient’s vision – with vision changes or even vision loss often being the first symptom reported by patients with glaucoma. However, glaucoma can be detected during a routine eye exam, making it critical that all men and women schedule annual eye exams, even if their vision seems “fine.” By catching glaucoma in its earliest stages, the chances of preserving your vision for as long as possible are much greater. Some diagnostic tools and methods that will help Dr. Ticho to confirm your glaucoma diagnosis include:
- Ophthalmoscopy
- Tonometry
- Visual field test
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
- Gonioscopy
How is glaucoma treated?
Glaucoma cannot be cured or reversed, nor can prior vision loss associated with glaucoma be restored. Still, glaucoma can be managed to avoid or prevent further vision loss and/or delay the progression of glaucoma. Because glaucoma is caused by a buildup of pressure in the eye which damages the optic nerve and ultimately disrupts the communication between the eye and the brain, keeping eye pressure at a low, normal level is key for controlling glaucoma. There are several options for lowering eye pressure to manage glaucoma, and Dr. Ticho will work closely with you to determine which course of treatment or management will be most appropriate and effective for your condition. Some of the most popular management options for glaucoma and lowering eye pressures include:
- Prescription eye drops used daily
- Oral medication
- Laser treatment therapy
- Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
Can glaucoma go away on its own?
No, glaucoma will not spontaneously resolve and, in fact, will almost always worsen if left untreated. Without proper management of your glaucoma, you may go on to develop total and permanent blindness.
Don’t risk your vision to glaucoma; schedule a comprehensive eye exam in Chicago Ridge, IL today
Without obvious symptoms, until it’s “too late,” advanced glaucoma continues to be one of the most devastating diagnoses a person can receive. However, with early detection and proper management, glaucoma can be well controlled and have a minimal impact on your vision and your overall quality of life. Don’t wait until you begin to experience vision loss to be tested for glaucoma. Call Ticho Eye Associates today to schedule your eye exam with Dr. Benjamin Ticho in Chicago Ridge, IL, Tinley Park, IL, or Munster, IN.