When Should I Go To Ophthalmologist..!
How To Care About My Contact Lenses..!
Who is at risk for glaucoma?
Your
ophthalmologist considers many kinds
of information to
determine your risk for
developing the
disease
The most important risk
factors include:
·
age;
·
family history of
glaucoma;
·
African ancestry;
·
past eye injuries.
Your ophthalmologist
will weigh all of these
factors before
deciding whether you need
treatment for
glaucoma, or whether you should
be monitored closely
as a
glaucoma suspect.
This means your risk
of developing glaucoma is higher than normal, and you need to have
regular
examinations to detect the early signs
of damage to the
optic nerve.
How is glaucoma detected?
Regular eye
examination by your ophthalmologist
are the best way to
detect glaucoma. A glaucoma
screening that
checks only the pressure of the eye is not sufficient to determine if
you have
glaucoma. The only sure way to detect glaucoma is to have a complete eye
examination.
During your glaucoma evaluation, your
ophthalmologist will:
·
Measure your
intraocular pressure
(tonometry);
·
Inspect the drainage
angle of your eye
(gonioscopy);
·
Evaluate whether or
not there is any
optic nerve damage
(ophthatmoscopy);
·
Test the peripheral
vision of each eye
(visual field
testing or perimetry).
Photography of the optic nerve or other computerized
imaging may be recommended. Some of
these tests may
not be necessary for everyone.
These tests may
need to be repeated on a regular
basis to monitor
any changes in your condition
How is glaucoma
treated?
As a rule,
damage caused by glaucoma cannot
reversed. Eye drops,
laser surgery and
surgery in the
operating room are methods used
to help prevent
further damage. In some cases,
oral medications may
also be prescribed.
With any type of
glaucoma, periodic examinations
are very important to prevent vision loss.
Because glaucoma can
progress without your
knowledge,
adjustments to your treatment may
be necessary from
time to time.