Glaucoma Treatment Options

Receiving a diagnosis of glaucoma can be frightening, but it’s the first step in preventing further damage to your vision. In fact, the earlier your eye doctor in Jacksonville, FL, is able to diagnose a condition such as glaucoma, the more effective treatment may be.

Glaucoma describes a series of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve is the one that sends light signals to your brain, which then deciphers the signals as images. Without a properly functioning optic nerve, it becomes impossible to see. Usually, glaucoma happens because there is too much intraocular pressure. This means the pressure inside your eye is too high. To treat the condition, your eye doctor must lower that pressure to take stress off the optic nerve. There are several good treatment options for glaucoma.

Medicated Eye Drops

Your eye professional may prescribe special eye drops that work to lower the pressure in your eye. They can do this in one of two ways:

  • By limiting the amount of fluid your eye produces
  • By helping fluid drain from the eye more evenly

Medicated eye drops can’t restore vision you’ve lost, but they can help prevent further damage to your optic nerve.

Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery uses a laser to improve the drainage angle of the eye or to make a tiny hole in the iris to encourage drainage. Both may be instrumental in improving symptoms of glaucoma. Your vision specialist in Jacksonville may also have other treatment options available to you, depending upon the type and severity of your condition.

Glaucoma Treatment in Jacksonville, FL

For glaucoma treatment in Jacksonville, FL, contact Stam & Associates Eye Care on Baymeadows Road. The eye professionals at Stam & Associates Eye Care are friendly, knowledgeable, and highly skilled. And the earlier you seek treatment for the symptoms of glaucoma, the more we can do. Call today to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.

What Are the Signs of Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a serious condition that can cause blindness. In fact, there is no cure for glaucoma, so anyone who gets this disease must manage their symptoms carefully in order to avoid blindness. As your eye doctor in Jacksonville, FL, we can help. Below are some of the things you need to know about glaucoma.

Signs of Glaucoma

There are multiple types of glaucoma, and unfortunately, some types of glaucoma have no symptoms in the early stages.

If you do have symptoms, here’s what you may experience:

  • Eye pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Severe headache
  • Difficulty seeing things either in the peripheral vision or central vision, depending on the type of glaucoma
  • Blurry vision
  • Halos around lights
  • Red eyes

Take Care of Your Eyes

Because some types of glaucoma have no symptoms in their early stages, it’s important to see the eye doctor periodically. This is especially true if you are at risk for glaucoma for any reason. For example, if you have a history of glaucoma in your family or if you have diabetes, then you may be at increased risk. See your eye doctor for an examination.

Keep in mind that standard eye appointments do not detect glaucoma. Comprehensive eye exams that involve eye dilation can detect glaucoma. If you have not had an eye exam of this type recently, talk to your eye doctor to find out whether you need to make an appointment.

Eyesight that is damaged by glaucoma cannot be recovered, so don’t wait to get help.

The Professionals at Stam & Associates Eye Care Can Help

You can protect your eyes by getting an eye examination in Jacksonville, FL. Call your eye doctor at Stam & Associates Eye Care today to make an appointment.