What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease in which damage to your optic nerve causes diminished vision or potentially blindness. The two main varieties of glaucoma are open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma.
How does the eye doctor diagnose glaucoma?
Because the most common kind of glaucoma doesn't cause symptoms, it's very important to have regular glaucoma screenings. Dr. Ethezaz will recommend a screening frequency for you according to your risk level and situation.
During your comprehensive eye exams, Dr. Ethezaz typically screens for glaucoma. Before making a glaucoma diagnosis, she uses the following evaluations:
- Tonometry: checks IOP
- Ophthalmoscopy: examines the optic nerve
- Vision field test: checks central and peripheral vision
- Gonioscopy: checks iris and cornea eye angle
- Pachymetry: corneal thickness check
If Dr. Ethezaz diagnoses you with glaucoma, she can begin treatment right away.
Open-angle glaucoma
In open-angle glaucoma, the most common kind of glaucoma, the trabecular meshwork drainage system inside your eye gradually becomes clogged, causing your intraocular pressure (IOP) to rise.
You have an open area (open-angle) between your iris and cornea in this kind of glaucoma. Because the condition develops slowly, symptoms of open-angle glaucoma are rarely obvious.
Angle-closure glaucoma
In angle-closure glaucoma, your trabecular meshwork grows clogged, and you have a closed-angle between your iris and cornea. This combines to trigger a sudden marked increase in IOP, as well as symptoms like eye pain and vision problems.
Both types of glaucoma are severe and require attention, but angle-closure glaucoma is urgent, and you must seek emergency medical attention for it.
How is glaucoma treated?
Prescription eye drops can reduce your IOP and control open-angle glaucoma quite well in many cases. Dr. Ethezaz can prescribe these eye drops, and then closely monitor your glaucoma in the months ahead.
If you develop angle-closure glaucoma, or if your IOP isn’t controllable with prescription eye drops, Dr. Ethezaz can refer you to an experienced local ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have years of specialized training in laser procedures and eye surgery. This additional training allows them to provide advanced solutions that can resolve blockages and reduce IOP.
For glaucoma screening, diagnosis, and treatment from a compassionate optometrist in the Ravenswood and Lincoln Square, Chicago, area, call Lincoln Square Eyecare or book online now.
