Glaucoma Management & Care

Comprehensive Glaucoma Care

Glaucoma is a complicated vision disorder that can cause damage to your optic nerves, the nerves that send images to your brain. This damage can lead to permanent peripheral vision loss if left untreated.

At Desert Eye Associates, we utilize the latest diagnostic instruments to detect, monitor, and treat this sight threatening condition. In most cases, glaucoma is a lifelong disorder that requires consistent care.

We aim to help our patients understand glaucoma, its symptoms, and how we can help manage it. Contact us to schedule your appointment today and learn how we can help.

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Understanding Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people 60 years and older and can cause optic nerve damage. However, early detection and prevention can help protect your vision.

A damaged optic nerve can lead to vision loss or even blindness and there can be many causes of optic nerve damage. A commonly treated cause is high eye pressure, which can build slowly and be difficult to detect in everyday life.

The Different Types of Glaucoma

Understanding the different types of glaucoma can also give some insight into if something is wrong and when to book an appointment. We typically recommend you visit us for a comprehensive eye exam every 2 years, but if you’re at risk of conditions such as glaucoma, we may recommend additional exams.

You are considered at high risk for developing glaucoma if you:

You have diabetes
You have a family history of glaucoma
You’re African American and age 50 or older
You’re Hispanic and age 65 or older

There are 2 common types of glaucoma. Each type has distinct differences that can affect your need for treatment.

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma, it occurs gradually when the eye does not drain fluid as well as it should. The tricky part is that it usually doesn’t present any symptoms in the early stages, which is why regular eye exams are crucial for early detection.

This type of glaucoma is often painless and causes no changes in your vision at first.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma is a more immediate threat and can cause sudden and severe vision loss. Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when the drainage angle in your eye becomes blocked, causing fluid pressure to increase rapidly.

This sudden rise in pressure can lead to intense eye pain, blurred vision, and even nausea or vomiting. It’s a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention from our team.

Managing Glaucoma

Eye pressure is not the only indicator of glaucoma, as high pressure does not always lead to glaucoma, and glaucoma can develop in spite of normal eye pressure. Anyone can develop glaucoma, although it can be more common for people over 40.

Some of the treatment options we offer at Desert Eye Associates include:

Medications such as eye drops
Lasers, in certain cases
Surgery, which is usually the last step used to treat glaucoma

Oftentimes, medication or surgery can help prevent further vision loss from glaucoma. Vision loss from glaucoma cannot be reversed. This is why early diagnosis and continual treatment is crucial.

Long-Term Glaucoma Care

At Desert Eye Associates, we are committed to your long-term visual health. Glaucoma is a lifelong disorder, and in many cases, requires consistent follow-up exams and care to protect your vision and preserve your eye health.

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