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When Should I Go To Ophthalmologist..!
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Eye Care & Facts myths
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How To Care About My Contact Lenses..!
Medications
Glaucoma is
usually controlled with eye drops
taken on a daily
basis. These medications
decrease eye
pressure, either by slowing the
amount of aqueous
fluid produced within the
eye or by improving
the flow through the
drainage angle.
Never change or stop
taking your medications
without consulting
your ophthalmologist. If you
are about to run out
of your medication, ask your ophthalmologist if you should have it
refilled.
Glaucoma medications
can preserve your vision,
however, they may
also produce side effects. You
should notify your
ophthalmologist if you think
you may be
experiencing side effects
Some eye drops
may cause:
$ red eyes or redness of the skin
surrounding
the eyes;
$ changes in breathing (especially with
asthma
or
emphysema);
All
medications can have side effects or can
interact with
other medications. Therefore, it is
important
that you make a list of the medications
you
regularly take and share this list with each
doctor you
see.
Laser surgery
treatments may be recommended
for different types
of glaucoma.
In open-angle
glaucoma, the
drain itself is treated. The laser is used to modify the drain
(trabeculoptasty)
to help control eye pressure.
In angle-closure glaucoma, the laser creates a hole in the iris (iridotomy) to improve the flow of aqueous fluid to the drain.
Surgery
in the operating room:
When
surgery in the operating room is needed to treat glaucoma, your
ophthalmologist uses
fine, microsurgical
instruments to create a new
drainage channel for
the aqueous fluid to leave
the eye. Should this
type of surgery be necessary,
your ophthalmologist
can provide you with
information about
this procedure. As with laser surgery, surgery in the operating room is
typically an
outpatient procedure.
There
are risks with all types of surgery. Though
serious complications
of modern glaucoma
surgery are uncommon,
they can occur. Surgery
is recommended if
your ophthalmologist feels that it is necessary to prevent further
damage to
the optic nerve.
What
is your part in treatment?
Treatment
for glaucoma requires teamwork
you and your doctor.
Your ophthalmologist
can prescribe
treatment for glaucoma, but only
you
can make sure that you follow your doctor's
instructions and take your eye drops.
Once
you are taking medications for glaucoma,
your ophthalmologist
will want to see you more
frequently.
Typically, you can expect to visit your
ophthalmologist
every three to four months. This
will vary depending
on your treatment needs
Loss of vision can be prevented
Regular medical
eye exams may help prevent unnecessary vision loss. Recommended
intervals
for eye exams
are:
$
Age 20-39: Individuals of African
descent or
with a family history of glaucoma should
have a medical exam
every 3 to 5 years. Others can
be seen at least once during this period;
$ Age 40-64:
Every 2 to 4 years;
$
Age 65 or older: Every
1
to 2
years