Article updated on January 3, 2023. Article originally published March 3, 2021.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. It is often called “the sneak thief of sight” since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost unfortunately it is permanent. One can lose as much as 40% of their vision without a person noticing.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. It most commonly can affect middle-aged and the elderly and is most prevalent in the African-American and Latino populations. Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain.
Typically damage occurs from an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), or pressure inside the eye. There are many forms of glaucoma, but the two main types are primary open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma.
What is the Best way to Protect Your Sight from Glaucoma?
The best way to protect your sight from glaucoma is to get a comprehensive eye examination. If you have signs of glaucoma, testing can be done in the office and treatment can be started immediately.
Dr. Reddy and her team at Ohio Ophthalmology can evaluate and treat you for glaucoma with a complete eye exam along with any additional testing that is needed for evaluation.
Please do not delay or avoid seeking the medical attention you need. For more information, call the office at 740-687-6902.