Without treatment, it leads to vision loss and eventually blindness. Early detection and treatment are vital to preventing vision loss from glaucoma. 

Keep reading to learn more about the most common symptoms of glaucoma and the treatment options accessible to you through EyeHealth Northwest.

What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?

In the beginning, glaucoma may not cause any symptoms. Vision likely won’t be affected, but there may be excessive pressure in the eyes and early signs of nerve damage that are detectable during an eye exam. 

Over time, there will be more damage to the optic nerve, and the fibers in the nerve will die off. When enough of the nerve is damaged, you will start to notice changes to your vision.

Early symptoms may include:

• Clouded vision
• Difficulty seeing when lighting conditions change or in low-light situations
• Changes to peripheral vision

Without treatment, the optic nerve damage will become more severe and lead to difficulty seeing objects in central vision and increasing peripheral vision loss. Eventually, untreated glaucoma can damage the optic nerve to the point that blindness occurs. 

Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Acute angle-closure glaucoma has a sudden onset and can cause rapid vision loss. With angle-closure glaucoma, there is a sudden increase in intraocular pressure that can lead to irreversible damage.

Symptoms of acute angle closure glaucoma include:

• Severe headache
• Severe eye pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Halos or colored rings around lights

This type of glaucoma is a medical emergency. If you suspect you have acute angle-closure glaucoma, you should call your eye doctor or go to an emergency room immediately. 

Early Detection of Glaucoma

There is no known way to prevent glaucoma. It can be detected during routine eye exams, allowing for prompt treatment before you experience any vision loss.

Your eye doctor at EyeHealth Northwest can do painless, non-invasive screenings that check your intraocular pressure and examine the inner structures of the eye. If you have signs of glaucoma, your eye doctor will recommend follow-up visits and a treatment plan. 

Glaucoma can be a complication of other health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Making positive lifestyle choices like staying active, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking can reduce the symptoms of those conditions and reduce the risk of complications, including glaucoma. 

How Is Glaucoma Treated?

There are a variety of strategies for managing glaucoma. You may need more than one type of treatment. 

Eye Drops

Prescription eye drops can slow the progression of glaucoma. Eye drops work by reducing intraocular pressure. Some drops improve the drainage of natural fluid within your eye, while others reduce the amount of fluid your eye produces.

Your eye doctor may prescribe more than one kind of eye drops for you to use.  

Oral Medications

Oral medications can also reduce fluid production in your eye. Your eye doctor may prescribe them in addition to eye drops.

Laser Treatments

A laser trabeculoplasty can decrease the pressure in your eyes by improving the drainage at the point where the iris and cornea meet inside the eye.

Traditional Glaucoma Surgery

Your eye doctor may recommend a surgical trabeculoplasty, a procedure that works similarly to a laser trabeculoplasty. They may also offer a different procedure in which your surgeon will place tiny tubes, called shunts, in your eye to improve drainage.

MIGS

Another option you may be a candidate for is minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), which can be tailored to your eye health needs. Patients typically report fewer complications than traditional glaucoma procedures.

Are you due for an eye exam to check for signs of glaucoma? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!

The post What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Glaucoma? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

Keep reading to learn more about glaucoma, including how it’s diagnosed!

What Do Eye Doctors Look For When Diagnosing Glaucoma?

There are several methods eye doctors use to diagnose glaucoma. Typically they will look for three things: elevated eye pressure, changes in the optic nerve, and changes in the visual field.

Elevated Eye Pressure 

This means that the pressure inside the eye, called intraocular pressure or IOP, is higher than normal. When your eye pressure is elevated, it can impact the optic nerve by damaging the tiny nerve fibers that comprise the optic nerve.

Changes in the Optic Nerve 

The optic nerve is what carries signals from your eye to your brain and is very important for vision. Changes in the optic nerve show that damage has occurred and that glaucoma is present. 

Changes in the Visual Field 

Changes in your visual field can include loss of sight in the peripheral or side vision. Because these blind spots are less noticeable, the individual with glaucoma may not realize they’re developing. 

As glaucoma worsens, central vision can be affected. Since the damage done by glaucoma is irreversible, early detection and treatment are critical to prevent permanent vision loss.

How Do Eye Doctors Look For Glaucoma?

There are a variety of ways eye doctors evaluate a person’s eyes for glaucoma. 

Comprehensive Eye Exam

Eye doctors can determine the presence of glaucoma during a comprehensive eye exam using various testing methods. During this exam, patients are given drops to dilate their pupils so the eye doctor can look within the eye to carefully examine the structures at the back of the eye.

This includes optic nerve evaluation, which is essential for diagnosing glaucoma.

Tonometry 

Tonometry measures the inside pressure of your eye. This can be done in a variety of ways and is very important for diagnosing and monitoring glaucoma as well as evaluating how well glaucoma treatment is working.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) 

OCT is a machine that takes high-resolution cross-section pictures of the retina at the back of the eye. The result is a 3D image of the layers of the retina and optic nerve. 

This enables early detection of a number of possible conditions, including glaucoma.

Visual Field Testing

This test determines if there are areas of your vision that have been damaged. Typically, glaucoma first causes damage to the peripheral vision.

After a visual field test, your eye doctor will be able to see exactly where your vision may have been damaged from glaucoma.

Your eye doctor will use a combination of these tests to determine whether or not you have glaucoma. If you have a family history of the condition, it is even more important that you have your eyes checked regularly.

Are you experiencing symptoms of glaucoma? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!

The post How Do Eye Doctors Diagnose Glaucoma? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

Various forms of glaucoma damage the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma’s nickname, “the silent thief of sight,” indicates that you may not notice any symptoms until it’s too late and you’ve experienced permanent vision loss. 

Keep reading to learn more about glaucoma, including how fast you can lose vision from the condition!

What Causes Glaucoma?

A healthy eye produces aqueous humor, a fluid that fills the front part of the eye and flows out through the pupil to reach the eye’s drainage system. The goal is a balanced flow between fluid production and fluid drainage. 

Intraocular pressure, or IOP, which is the inner pressure of the eye, is a way to measure eye health. High IOP often leads to glaucoma because increased eye pressure kills the fine nerve fibers within the optic nerve. The result is vision loss. 

However, high IOP does not always develop into glaucoma, and not every case of glaucoma can be detected by elevated IOP. 

What Types of Glaucoma Are There?

The two essential types of glaucoma to know are open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type. 

It usually develops slowly without any noticeable symptoms. In open-angle glaucoma, the drainage system is open and not blocked. 

Angle-closure glaucoma is less common. However, it can be acute and cause vision damage quickly. 

There may be eye pain, redness, and blurred vision. If you experience these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical care right away.

What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?

Often there are no symptoms in the early stages. As the condition progresses, you might experience a loss of peripheral or side vision.

If you develop this symptom, it may make you feel like you’re peering through a tunnel. Advanced glaucoma affects central vision, reducing sight until blindness occurs.

What Are the Risk Factors For Glaucoma?

Glaucoma risk increases with age, especially for individuals forty or older. Other risk factors include a family history of glaucoma, diabetes, extreme nearsightedness, and steroid medications taken over a long period of time. 

People of African, Hispanic, or Asian descent have a higher risk of certain types of glaucoma. Annual eye exams are recommended if you’re over the age of sixity, have a family history of glaucoma, or have high IOP.

How Do Eye Doctors Diagnose Glaucoma?

A comprehensive eye exam can detect glaucoma symptoms early. Eye pressure is measured along with corneal thickness. 

The optic nerve is carefully examined through the dilated pupils. Visual field testing measures your peripheral vision. With ongoing exams and treatment, the progression of glaucoma can be slowed and even stopped, but any vision damage that results from glaucoma is irreversible. 

How is Glaucoma Treated?

When caught early, glaucoma can often be managed. Depending on the type of glaucoma, treatment can include prescription eye drops to reduce IOP, surgery to open blocked channels and increase drainage, or certain laser surgery procedures to decrease aqueous humor production. 

As with any condition, early detection makes a huge difference in outcomes. If you haven’t had a glaucoma screening recently, make an appointment to see an eye doctor at EyeHealth Northwest. 

Don’t let the silent thief of sight reduce your quality of life!

Are you experiencing symptoms of glaucoma or have a family history of this eye condition? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Hillsboro, OR, today!

The post How Fast Do You Lose Vision from Glaucoma? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, so catching it early is key to saving your sight. Keep reading to learn more about glaucoma and whether or not it is hereditary!

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is typically caused when eye pressure levels are consistently higher than normal. The higher the pressure, the greater the chance of damage to your vision. 

How Does Increased Eye Pressure Damage Your Vision? 

Your eye is constantly creating fluid. At the same rate as the fluid is being created, it also needs to exit the eye through natural drainage channels consistently.

When this fluid cannot exit the eye consistently, the eye pressure will rise. The retina is located at the back of the eye and is connected to millions of sensitive nerve fibers that form the optic nerve. 

The optic nerve carries electrical impulses to the brain, where they are interpreted as visual images. Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) pushes on those optic nerve fibers. 

Too much pressure can damage and kill off these fine nerve fibers, which can affect your vision. In the beginning, damage may occur in your peripheral (side) vision, and you may not even be aware of the changes. 

However, when enough nerve fibers are affected, you will experience loss of vision which is irreversible. 

Why Does Fluid Build Up?

A healthy eye produces aqueous humor, a fluid that fills the front part of the eye and flows out through the eye’s drainage system. Balancing this flow is essential to your vision.

If the eye cannot drain excess fluid, the buildup increases pressure. 

Glaucoma is Hereditary

The most common forms have a genetic component. So if members of your family have had glaucoma, let your eye doctor know so they can closely monitor your eye health to catch any initial indications of glaucoma. 

You will likely not be able to recognize early-stage glaucoma as are no symptoms in the beginning, yet it can be treated during this time frame. You may be developing the disease and not even know it.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Glaucoma can lead to a loss of peripheral or side vision. It may feel like you’re peering through a tunnel.

Eventually, central vision is reduced until blindness occurs. Distorted vision or blurry vision can also be indications of glaucoma. 

However, most glaucoma patients will not notice any changes to their vision in the early stages, which is why routine eye exams are so important.

Who is At Risk For Glaucoma?

The risk increases with age, particularly for individuals over forty. A family history of glaucoma is another warning sign. 

Those with diabetes, individuals with extreme nearsightedness, and those who’ve used steroid medications over a long period of time are also at risk. 

Treating Glaucoma

There is no cure for glaucoma. However, treatments that lower eye pressure can prevent further damage to the optic nerve and prevent vision loss.  

Your eye doctor may prescribe you eye drops that aim to decrease the production of eye fluid or improve the outflow of eye fluid. This will help maintain a healthier IOP. 

In some cases, medicated eye drops may not adequately lower eye pressure. In this case, your eye doctor may recommend further treatment, like glaucoma surgery.

Microsurgery can help improve the outflow of fluid, and certain laser procedures can also provide relief from increased IOP. 

Your eye doctor will discuss possible options with you to help you make the best choice to control your glaucoma. 

Do you want to learn more about glaucoma or have your eyes screened for the condition? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!

The post Is Glaucoma Hereditary? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

If an eye doctor can detect this eye condition early, non-invasive treatments may be able to control glaucoma and preserve your eyesight. Keep reading to learn if eye drops can help with glaucoma! 

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye condition often caused by increased pressure in the eye. It’s dangerous because it can permanently damage the optic nerve, which is vital to allow you to see clearly.

Glaucoma is not a single condition but a grouping of several types of disorders. Glaucoma can lead to loss of vision if left untreated. 

While indicators of the most common forms of glaucoma reveal increased pressure in the eye, glaucoma can also be present even if the eye pressure is normal. Glaucoma is also frequently hereditary. 

If your family members have glaucoma, let your eye doctor at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, Oregon know. They will closely monitor your eye health to catch any initial indications of glaucoma.

Unfortunately, you can develop glaucoma and not even know it. There are no symptoms in the early stages, which is why regular comprehensive eye exams are so important to preserve your vision.

Causes of Glaucoma

Aqueous humor is the fluid that your eye produces. It fills the front part of the eye and flows to reach the eye’s drainage system. 

Your eye’s health is dependent on balancing this flow. One way to check the balance is by measuring intraocular pressure, or IOP, the eye’s intraocular pressure. 

With normal pressure levels, the millions of nerve fibers that run from the retina and form the optic nerve function smoothly, providing you with clear, sharp, bright eyesight. However, increased pressure can damage these nerve fibers. 

Too much pressure, and these fibers die off. This is when vision loss occurs. 

At this point, the loss is irreversible: any vision you’ve lost is vision you can’t get back. 

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Often there are no early-stage symptoms. Yet if left untreated, glaucoma can lead to a loss of peripheral or side vision.

It may feel like you’re peering through a tunnel. Eventually, central vision is reduced until blindness occurs.

Who’s at Risk for Developing Glaucoma?

The risk increases with age, particularly for individuals over forty. Others at risk are those with a family history of glaucoma, diabetics, individuals with extreme nearsightedness, or those who’ve used steroid medications for a long time.

If you have glaucoma, there are various treatment options. Depending on the type of glaucoma, your treatment may include prescription eye drops for less severe cases.

Your eye doctor may suggest microsurgery to thoroughly drain the eye’s fluid or certain laser surgery procedures.

Glaucoma Treatment Using Eye Drops

Though there is no cure for glaucoma, treatments that reduce intraocular pressure can stop the progression of the condition. Prescription eye drops are the most common treatment for glaucoma. 

They work by lowering the pressure in your eye and preventing damage to your optic nerve. There is no cure for glaucoma, and there’s no way to restore any vision you’ve lost. 

Treatment will halt further loss of sight as long as you take the drops as directed. Prescription eye drops for glaucoma need to be applied to the eye every day.

Depending on the type of medicine you’re prescribed, you might have to do this as little as once a day or up to four times a day. Eye drops are your way of taking control of your eye health. 

Do you want to learn more about the available treatment methods for glaucoma? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!

The post Can Eyedrops Help with Glaucoma? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

There may be some signs that you are developing glaucoma. Also, there are multiple types of glaucoma and options for treating it.

Keep reading to learn about what glaucoma is and what treatments are available.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that cause damage to the optic nerve. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for sight.

Glaucoma causes the pressure in your eye, called intraocular pressure or IOP, to rise. It blocks the drains in your eyes and causes the pressure to push on your optic nerve.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults, but anyone can get it. However, it is more common for older adults to develop it. 

Glaucoma is sneaky. Most cases and types of glaucoma don’t have any warning signs, which is why it can surprise you and cause blindness. Often, patients don’t notice any changes to their vision until it is too late. 

During an eye exam, your eye doctor measures your eye pressure. They do this during every eye exam to track any changes over time. If it changes too much between exams, they will know something is wrong and check for glaucoma.

This helps your doctor diagnose glaucoma early and give you the correct treatment. If the diagnosis is earlier, in the beginning, it is possible to delay or prevent vision loss.

What are the types of Glaucoma?

There are two main types of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and acute angle-closure glaucoma.

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG)

POAG is the most common type of glaucoma, and it develops slowly. This type of glaucoma gives the disease the nickname the silent thief of sight.

That’s because most people don’t know they have POAG until it causes permanent vision loss. It develops so slowly you don’t notice the changes in your vision, then suddenly it causes vision loss.

As POAG develops, you will experience tunnel vision the further along it gets. It can cause blind spots in your peripheral or central vision that occur in some individuals. Also, it is possible to get POAG in both eyes.

Acute angle-closure Glaucoma

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is more extreme than POAG. It is also less common.

It does not develop slowly like POAG. Instead, it comes on quickly and causes rapid vision loss.

Its symptoms are much more apparent and include:

• Headaches
• Eye pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Red eyes
• Blurry vision
• Halos around lights

 If you suddenly experience these symptoms, it is an emergency, and you need immediate medical attention to save your vision.

How do you treat Glaucoma? 

The two most common ways to treat glaucoma are pressure-reducing medications and laser eye surgery. Medications to reduce IOP can be in the form of oral medicines or come as medicated eye drops.

In some cases, you may need both eye drops and pills to keep your IOP levels low. These medicines can help fluid drain out of your eye, reduce the amount of fluid produced, or both.

Laser eye surgery is the other most common glaucoma treatment. If you’re using a laser to treat glaucoma, the goal is to create new drainage pathways in the blocked tissue in your eye.

Creating additional drains should help lower your IOP by giving eye fluid more ways to drain out of your eye. Laser procedures can also help to decrease the amount of fluid produced in your eyes.

Are you concerned you may have glaucoma? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, to check for glaucoma.

The post How Can You Treat Glaucoma? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

Glaucoma is so sneaky in fact, it is called “the silent thief of sight.”

Typically though, glaucoma has no warning signs.

Keep reading to learn why glaucoma has no warning signs.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is part of a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. You need to have a healthy optic nerve to see clearly. Glaucoma damages your optic nerve by increasing the pressure and fluids in your eye.

Who Is At Risk For Glaucoma? 

While anyone can develop, glaucoma, older adults are at a higher risk for it. In adults ages 60 and older, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss. 

How does glaucoma work?  

Glaucoma has the nickname of being the secret thief of sight. Unlike other eye conditions, most types of glaucoma do not have warning signs, which is why it seems to appear so suddenly. 

Unfortunately, it is common for patients to not realize there are changes until it is too late. Also, unlike most other eye conditions, damage from glaucoma is irreversible once it begins. 

This is why it is important to get frequent eye exams. During your eye exam, your eye doctor will measure your eye pressure, so they will be able to notice any changes. 

It is wise to have a baseline for your eye pressure because it will help them notice when changes are occurring. It is best to see your eye doctor as soon as possible to determine your baseline. 

You want to diagnose glaucoma as early as possible so you can receive treatment to delay or prevent vision loss. 

What Are The Symptoms Of Glaucoma?

There are two main types of glaucoma, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms of both types.

Acute angle glaucoma comes on very quickly and is a medical emergency. It has a range of symptoms, including:

• Strong headaches
• Eye pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Cloudy vision
• Seeing halos around lights
• Your eyes turning red

Open-angle glaucoma has no visible symptoms until vision loss has already occurred. When this type of glaucoma has advanced, you may experience tunnel vision. 

This means that you have blind spots in your peripheral or central vision. For some adults, it occurs on and off.

Remember, changes in your vision and eye health can be so small that you do not even notice them. Getting frequent eye exams is the only way to catch glaucoma early on. 

So, if you recognize any of these symptoms, you need to book an appointment with your eye doctor. If left untreated, glaucoma will cause you to lose your vision. 

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR now! We will help you determine what is happening with your eyes.

Don’t risk your eyesight for another day. You can prevent glaucoma, but you must see your eye doctor regularly to protect yourself from the silent thief of sight.

The post Why Glaucoma Has No Warning Signs appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

This is only one of the signs and risk factors tied to glaucoma. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month.

The goal of this month is to bring awareness to the signs, symptoms, and risk factors associated with glaucoma. Keep reading to learn more about why Glaucoma Awareness Month is important!

Why is Glaucoma Dangerous?

Glaucoma is harmful because it damages your optic nerve. You need to have a healthy optic nerve to be able to see clearly.

The reason glaucoma damages your optic nerve is because it causes the pressure in your eye to increase. For adults 60 and older, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness. But while it is possible for anyone to be diagnosed with glaucoma, it is more common in older adults.

Glaucoma has the nickname of being the secret thief of sight because most kinds of glaucoma don’t have any warning signs or symptoms. For many people, they’ve already experienced vision loss from this condition by the time they receive a diagnosis.

Unfortunately, damage caused by glaucoma is irreversible. That means if you lose any vision from glaucoma, you can’t get it back.

This is why annual eye exams are so important. This is the only time your ophthalmologist can look at your eyes.

One of the things they will measure is your eye pressure. They will continue to monitor it so they can figure out what is a healthy range for your eyes.

This way, if something changes, they will notice it before it is a problem. The key to preventing or slowing down vision loss is receiving an early diagnosis and treatment.

Once adults reach the age of 65, they need to have annual eye exams. Even with healthy eyes and good vision, this is still something you need to do.

Risk Factors

There are many factors that play into people developing glaucoma. Some of the risk factors include being 60 or older or having very high interior eye pressure.

Another risk factor of glaucoma is it can be genetic and hereditary. Other risk factors include:

• If you have glaucoma in your family history, you have a higher chance of developing it
• If you are Hispanic, Asian, or African American
• If you are extremely nearsighted or farsighted-If you have high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia, heart disease, or diabetes
• If the central part of your corneas are too thin
• If you have used corticosteroid medication for long periods of time
• If you have had eye injuries or had specific types of eye surgery

It’s important to disclose these risk factors to your eye doctor whenever you go in for an eye exam.

Symptoms

The symptoms of glaucoma differ depending on what kind of glaucoma you have, as well as what stage you may be in. Common kinds of glaucoma include:

Acute Angle-closure Glaucoma

Acute angle-closure glaucoma creates intense headaches, eye pain, nausea, and vomiting. You may also experience cloudy vision, eye redness, and halos around lights.

Open-angle Glaucoma

Another kind of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common kind. This kind of glaucoma can occur in both eyes. It causes tunnel vision and blind spots in your peripheral or central vision.

If you start developing these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

The best way to keep your eyes healthy and diagnose glaucoma early on is by getting frequent eye exams, especially since glaucoma can sneak up on you. If you have any of the risk factors, your eye doctor may recommend more frequent eye exams.

Do you think that you might have glaucoma? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR now!

The post Yes, Glaucoma Awareness Month is Important and Here’s Why appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

These are common symptoms of glaucoma. Did you know that January is Glaucoma Awareness Month? Keep reading to learn more about glaucoma!

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. Any damage to the optic nerve is irreversible. You need to have a healthy optic nerve to be able to see.

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve because of the high pressure it causes to the eye. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. 

Anyone can be diagnosed with glaucoma but it is most common in people who are older. 

People call glaucoma the secret thief of sight because it doesn’t have any warning signs. For most people, they don’t realize they have glaucoma until vision loss has occurred. 

Once glaucoma starts damaging your vision, it is irreversible. This is why you must see your eye doctor for eye exams. During your eye exam, your doctor will measure your eye pressure. 

Measuring your eye pressure allows them to check your eye pressure levels. It also gives them a baseline to compare to if any changes start occurring. 

Early diagnosis is key to early treatment. This helps delay or prevent further vision loss from occurring. Once you hit age 65, you need to get annual eye exams, even if you have never experienced vision problems before.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of glaucoma vary depending on the type of glaucoma and how advanced it is. 

Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma

With acute angle-closure glaucoma, you may have strong headaches, eye pain, nausea and vomiting, cloudy vision, redness, and see halos around lights.

Open-Angle Glaucoma 

This is the most common kind of glaucoma. With open-angle glaucoma, you might have blind spots in your peripheral or central vision in both eyes. Later on, you can have tunnel vision. 

You need to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. If left untreated, glaucoma will cause blindness. 

About 15% of people diagnosed with glaucoma develop blindness in at least one eye within 20 years. This can happen even if you treat glaucoma. 

Risk Factors 

Glaucoma can cause blindness before you notice any of the symptoms or signs. The risk factors are:

• Being 60 years of age or older
• Having very high interior eye pressure
• Having a family history of glaucoma
• Being Hispanic, Asian or African American
• Being highly nearsighted or farsighted
• Having high blood pressure, heart disease, sickle cell anemia or diabetes
• Having thin corneas
• Experiencing an eye injury or having certain types of eye surgery
• Using corticosteroid medication for an extended time

It is possible to prevent or delay going blind because of glaucoma. The best thing you can do is get frequent eye exams to check your eyes and identify any changes. 

Exercising is a great way to reduce eye pressure, which helps prevent glaucoma. Take prescription eye drops accordingly. 

When playing sports or using power tools, use eye protection to prevent injuries.

Do you think it is time for an eye exam? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Happy Valley, OR today! There’s no time like the present to make your eye health a priority!

The post Did You Know It’s Glaucoma Awareness Month? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

Since Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma starts out with minimal to no warning signs or symptoms it is vital that you are having your eyes regularly examined.  Eye exams are always important but become increasingly important as you age and could start developing these sometimes silent conditions. A regular eye exam will allow you to detect Glaucoma sooner and give you time to protect your vision. This is important to keep in mind because in the United States alone Glaucoma has left 120,000 blind.

Now that you know what Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma is and how severe it can be if it goes unrecognized it is important to take the next steps to protect yourself from this condition that could leave you blind.  You can do this by scheduling an eye exam regularly to detect any warning signs of this condition as well as numerous other conditions that can negatively impact your eye health.

The post Everything you need to know about Open-Angle Glaucoma appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.