Roughly 3 million Americans have glaucoma according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The only way to halt its progress and save your vision is to get early treatment. Your doctors at Clearwater Eye and Laser Center, Dr. Kyle Linsey, Dr. Peter Smith, and Dr. Larry Perich, offer glaucoma treatment in Clearwater, FL.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a collection of eye conditions leading to optic nerve damage. Your optic nerve is a bundle of nerves that transmit light impulses as electrical signals to your brain for interpretation. The damaging effects of glaucoma on your optic nerve can cause problems with your eyesight. Glaucoma may result from excessive fluid buildup in your eye.
Under normal conditions, the quantity of fluid produced and eliminated from your eyeball daily is equal. This process ensures that the fluid pressure in your eye remains within the normal range. Disturbances in the balance of fluid production and elimination from your eye cause your intraocular pressure to rise. The increased intraocular pressure affects your vision when it damages your optic nerve.
Why You Shouldn't Delay Glaucoma Treatment
Often, people don't get glaucoma symptoms till vision loss is already in progress. Progressive peripheral vision loss is one of the first symptoms people get. You may begin to notice your field of vision becomes narrowed. Acute angle-closure glaucoma develops quickly and you may experience signs such as headaches, blurred vision, and colored light rings.
Damage caused by glaucoma to your vision is irreversible. Hence, delays in your diagnosis and treatment may cause your vision to worsen. Visiting your eye doctor for routine glaucoma screening will help you detect if and begin treatment as soon as possible.
Glaucoma Treatment
There's no cure for glaucoma, but your doctors can help you with glaucoma treatment in Clearwater, FL, to slow down the disease progression and save your vision. Treatment for glaucoma includes medications and surgery. Glaucoma surgery helps reduce your intraocular pressure when medication is ineffective. Your doctor will discuss your options with you to ensure that you get the best possible treatment.
Even if you've got no symptoms, schedule a consultation with Dr. Linsey, Dr. Smith, and Dr. Perich of Clearwater Eye and Laser Center, for an eye exam to determine if you need glaucoma treatment in Clearwater, FL, by calling (727) 446-7578.