Glaucoma Management in Oshkosh & Menasha, WI
What Is Glaucoma and What Causes It?
According to the National Eye Institute, glaucoma is a type of eye disease that damages the eye's optic nerve. Optic nerve damage can be caused by increased eye pressure from fluid buildup, and high blood pressure can also cause glaucoma. Fortunately, ophthalmologists at Wisconsin Eye Consultants in Menasha, WI, can help diagnose and treat your glaucoma.
Risk Factors for Developing Glaucoma
Your risk of developing glaucoma increases if you are/have:
- Over 60 years old
- African American and over age 40
- Family history of glaucoma
- High eye pressure
- Thin corneas
- Abnormal optic nerve anatomy
How to Prevent Glaucoma
Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent glaucoma. You need to:
- Wear eye protection to avoid injuring your eyes
- Monitor your blood pressure and keep it under control with diet and medication
- Maintain a healthy weight to avoid obesity, which can increase eye pressure
Diagnosis of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is often diagnosed during routine eye examinations. Early diagnosis of glaucoma is critical, which is one reason why regular eye examinations are so important. During your eye examination, your eye doctor will perform a series of tests to diagnose glaucoma, including:
- Tonometry, to measure intraocular pressure
- Dilated eye examination and imaging, to detect optic nerve damage
- Visual field test, to check for areas of vision loss
- Pachymetry, to measure corneal thickness
- Gonioscopy, to inspect the angle of drainage
Treatment of Glaucoma
To treat glaucoma, your eye doctor may recommend:
- Prescription eye drop medications, including prostaglandins, beta-blockers, and others, to lower eye pressure
- Oral medications to reduce eye pressure
- Laser trabeculoplasty to drain fluid from your eyes and reduce eye pressure
- Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery to reduce eye pressure
Do You Want to Know More About Glaucoma?
To learn more about the causes, signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of glaucoma, call the ophthalmologists at Wisconsin Eye Consultants in Menasha & Oshkosh, WI. You can reach them in the office by calling (920) 806-3005, so call now.