Glaucoma: Detection is Important as There Are Few Symptoms

Our eyes are one of, if not the most, important of our senses. “There are many things that can go wrong with your eyes, so take care to recognize some important symptoms,” states Niki Silverstein, MD of Silverstein Eye in Chester. She adds, “Different diseases and conditions may have the same symptoms. Only an eye doctor can provide you with the tests and knowledge to make a proper diagnosis.”

Glaucoma is an all too common disease. It is also a very serious disease, as it is the leading cause of blindness for seniors in the US. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, which is an extremely important nerve because it carries images of what we see with our eyes to the brain for processing.

One of the many problems with glaucoma is that most often symptoms are not noticeable. One of the first symptoms of glaucoma damage may be loss of peripheral vision. There are several types of glaucoma – open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma are the most common.

Open-angle glaucoma is the most prevalent; age increases the risk of developing it. In open-angle glaucoma, the drainage angle of the eye becomes less efficient and pressure builds up within the eye (called intraocular pressure). One of the problems with open-angle glaucoma is that there are no early symptoms. With more damage over time you may see blind spots. Other than that this is almost a silent disease.

With the other type of glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, there are some symptoms but again, in most cases attacks occur without any symptoms preceding it. This type of glaucoma results when the iris bulges forward and narrows the drainage angle. Be on the lookout for symptoms such as eye pain, headache, blurred vision, rainbow-colored halos around lights, and nausea and vomiting, among others.

“Understanding that in the case of glaucoma there they may be few or no symptoms to give you warming, it is important to have a regular eye exam by a doctor, which in most cases is once a year,” states Dr. Silverstein. “In my office I have the tools and experience to detect it as early as possible. This means that treatment to preserve your vision can start as soon as possible, and the good news is that there are many different methods, including medications, lasertreatments and surgery, which can help you maintain your vision and stall further damage.”

Niki Silverstein MD, is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist at Silverstein Eye, 408 Main Street in Chester. With over 25 years of experience, she is renowned for her treatment of eye diseases and state-of-the-art surgery. Visit www.SilversteinEye.com or call 908-879- 7297 for more information.

 

 

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