Glaucoma Can Rob You of Sight Before You Know You Have It

Glaucoma in Jacksonville FL is a serious eye condition that slowly robs people of their sight. Unfortunately, glaucoma can lead to blindness if left untreated. For many people, the most challenging part of living with glaucoma is that it typically causes no symptoms until the advanced stages.

The best way to know you have glaucoma even if you do not have symptoms is to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Stam & Associates Eye Care at least once a year. Committing to an annual eye exam is easy to do when you consider that half of the more than two million Americans currently living with glaucoma do not know that they have it.

What Are the Risk Factors for Developing Glaucoma?

Aging works against you when it comes to glaucoma since the condition is most prevalent in people over age 40, and the risk increases the older you get. If you are of African American descent, you may develop silent symptoms as early as age 35. Below are several other symptoms associated with glaucoma that all people should know.

• Diabetes
• Family history of glaucoma
• Near sightedness
• Use of steroids over an extended period

If you are diabetic, keeping your blood sugar as low as possible can help to reduce your risk of glaucoma.

Diagnosing and Treating Glaucoma

Testing for glaucoma takes less than one minute and involves Dr. Bryan Stam or Dr. Gary Akel squeezing a ball that releases a puff of air to measures your ocular pressure. Treatment typically involves using prescription eye drops daily for the remainder of your life to prevent the buildup of fluid. Dr. Stam or Dr. Akel can also discuss alternative treatment options forglaucoma in Jacksonville FL when you come in for your next exam.