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Jumat, 07 November 2014

Glaucoma San Antonio Sufferers Rely On Early Detection And Control

By Etta Bowen


Loss of vision changes every single aspect of life. In past centuries, people who lost their eyesight and had no safety net often ended up begging in order to survive. While that rarely happens today, eye diseases like glaucoma still exact a harsh personal penalty, and can result in blindness if not found and treated in time. Glaucoma San Antonio sufferers combat this optic nerve issue using education and advances in technology.

The disease is a combination of conditions that often afflicts both eyes, and is commonly characterized by an internal increase in fluids and pressure. Under normal circumstances those liquids drain, equalizing the pressure. If that process is blocked, internal fluid builds, placing damaging pressure on nearby ocular structures including the optic nerve. There are two primary forms, closed and open angle glaucoma.

Because this eye disease progresses slowly, victims may not initially be physically aware of any problem. As time passes, damaged nerves slowly cause losses in peripheral vision, a process that may continue for years. In the final stages, all sight is severely affected and vision restricted to a narrow tunnel directly in front of the face. Closed angle disease can cause immediate problems with very prominent symptoms.

These signs of trouble include eye pain that may be harsh enough to cause vomiting and nausea. Electric lights may seem to have glowing auras, and adjusting to light intensity changes in different environments becomes harder. Age increases the chances of developing this problem, which can also be encouraged by genetic inheritance, the presence of other illnesses, and even recent eye surgery.

Early diagnosis is the key to successful long-term treatment. Most eye examinations include standard pressure tests which can immediately reveal higher-than-normal pressure levels. Gonioscopy is an additional procedure helpful in determining the extent of blockage of the angle from cornea to iris. Lateral vision loss is detected by perimetry testing, and additional medical tools can determine the amount of damage to the optic nerve itself.

When an exam reveals existing issues, treatment often begins immediately. Although there are currently no complete cures for this combination of eye conditions, progression can now be dramatically slowed, and often halted. Existing destruction is not reversible, but the most effective medications include eye drops containing beta blockers, fluid inhibitors, prostaglandin analogues, or liquid flow stimulants.

In cases that do no respond to eye drops, surgery may be the best option. Drainage passages can be effectively unblocked using lasers, while other patients show progress when treated with filters that help relieve internal eye pressure. In some cases aqueous shunt implants are installed. A victim of acute-angle glaucoma is treated as an emergency requiring immediate drug therapy and surgery.

Sufferers in San Antonio TX realize the importance of testing and treatment to combat the progression of this vision-robbing condition. Because there may be no apparent symptoms, only a vision specialist can detect the first signs of trouble. Technological advances in visual medicine have made detection simple and pain-free. Early diagnosis reduces the chance that long-term problems will develop.




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