Glaucoma is a serious eye condition which, if left untreated, can lead to permanent blindness. This condition results from an increased build up of pressure in the eyes. There are actually two types of glaucoma, open angle and closed angle glaucoma.

Types of Glaucoma

Closed angle glaucoma is an eye condition which may be noticed suddenly, without any other symptoms aside from intense pain in the eyes. With the sudden onset of pain in the eyes, patients who suffer from closed angle glaucoma tend to seek the help of an eye doctor before the condition can negatively impact their vision. Before any loss of vision can occur, because of the sudden pain, doctors are able to diagnose and treat the condition.

Open angle glaucoma is quite the opposite of closed angle glaucoma. It is painless, does not have any sudden onsets of pain, and is often characterized by the gradual loss of vision over a period of time. This is the most common type of glaucoma.

Causes of Glaucoma

Research indicates that a person who has a family member who suffers from glaucoma is likely to have it as well, since this particular eye condition is said to be hereditary. Elderly people are also more likely to suffer from open angle glaucoma because their corneas are thinner compared to younger people, mostly brought about by age. Prolonged use of steroids is also a contributing cause in developing glaucoma.

Treatment Options for Glaucoma

There are different ways to treat glaucoma, and this really depends on the type and severity the person suffers from. Treatment options can also be changed if the patient develops a tolerance for the medicine or suffers from side effects from the medication. Eye drops are the most commonly used medication for milder glaucoma, but some eye doctors may require a combination of medicines for a more effective treatment and to lessen side effects. The goal of these medications is to lessen the pressure on the ocular nerve, allowing patients to see better and lessen the discomfort and pain.

On the other hand, glaucoma surgery may be necessary if the condition is quite severe or if there is too much pressure in the eye. However, not everybody can have eye surgery in a snap. Eye doctors need to conduct a series of tests to determine how healthy the eye is, as well as the patient. One important thing to note about eye surgery for glaucoma is that it can only relieve and lessen the pressure building up in the eye, but once the vision is lost, glaucoma surgery cannot bring it back.

Laser Surgery for Glaucoma

Laser glaucoma surgery may be necessary if medication is not enough in relieving pressure in your eye as well as in cases where in the optic nerve may be suffering from too much damage. Laser glaucoma surgery is a process wherein eye doctors use a tiny but powerful beam of laser to make incisions in the drainage system of the eye. This helps the eyes to naturally increase the flow of fluid coming out of the eyes. In the event that the pressure in the eyes begins to build up again, another type of surgery may be required.

Having glaucoma surgery can help you alleviate the eye condition which has been dubbed as the silent thief of sight. It is very crucial to diagnose and treat the condition during its earlier phases as the vision lost as the glaucoma progresses is irreversible. People suffering untreated from this condition will find that their peripheral vision is lost and may have difficulty with halos appearing around lights. Some even have trouble distinguishing colours as their vision seems to bleed over the other, causing colours and images to blend on top of the other. And there are some which the condition was not diagnosed on time and suffer from total blindness in one or two eyes.

However, if caught and treated early, glaucoma can be a manageable eye condition. With the help of eye doctors, they can help you in getting the medication you need for treating glaucoma before it becomes worse, or recommend eye laser treatment. Your doctor will also help you prepare for glaucoma surgery, what you should and should not do before the procedure, and any other precautions you need to take after the surgery has been completed.