Glaucoma Surgery

Serving Oklahoma City and Edmond, Oklahoma

 

Frequently Asked Glaucoma Questions

1. Who is at risk for developing glaucoma?

If you have a family history of it, you’ll be more likely to develop glaucoma, so see your eye doctor for testing when you reach the age of about 40. Since it has no early symptoms, you could lose some of your vision without knowing it. There are some other indicators too:

 

• Race (African American, Hispanic, Asian)
• Diabetes – which brings other vision risks too, because of its effect on blood circulation
• Hypertension – which raises pressure within the entire circulatory system
• Eye injury – which would be an individual matter, depending on the exact injury
• Steroid use – meaning topical steroids used to reduce inflammation around the eyes; this is rare and not well understood
• Sleep apnea – seems to be related to glaucoma, but the connection is not well understood

2. What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Glaucoma has no early symptoms. About half of all people with glaucoma are not aware that they have the disease, because it comes on so quietly and gradually. One gets used to the loss of vision as its happening. In the later stages, there can be various symptoms, and one will start to notice reduced vision:

 

• Cloudy vision
• Halos
• Light sensitivity
• Crossed eyes
• Different sized eyes
• Excessive tearing
• Headaches
• Nausea

 

3.  Are there different types of glaucoma?

Yes, there are several types of glaucoma:

 

• Open angle glaucoma
• Angle closure glaucoma (also called closed angle glaucoma)
• Congenital glaucoma
• Normal tension glaucoma

 

4.  How is glaucoma treated?

Treatment will depend on the type of glaucoma that you have. Most often eyedrops are prescribed, which will lower the pressure in the eyes, either by reducing tear production, or by helping to clear the drainage passages. In some cases surgery is done to open those drainage passages.

 

5.  Can glaucoma cause blindness?

Yes, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness around the world. So don’t delay your glaucoma testing once your reach mid-life. Early detection and treatment is the only way to prevent vision loss and blindness.

 

You’ll find more information on our Glaucoma page. If you have no family history of glaucoma, are not diabetic, and have not injured your eyes, don’t assume that you can’t get glaucoma. It’s a silent disease, and slow to develop in most cases.

 

So protect your vision by seeing one of our doctors at Hummel Eye Associates for glaucoma testing. We can determine if you have unduly high pressure inside your eyes, and if you have lost any peripheral vision yet. Contact us to arrange your initial consultation. Why not see your best throughout your days?

 

(405)755-6111
Hummel Eye Associates
See Your Best…See Hummel!
4205 McAuley Blvd. #401
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
(405)755-6298