Optic nerve damage to the eye is known as "glaucoma", and eye disease is the leading cause of blindness in the United States today. What causes this condition? The pressure in the eye usually increases in what is known as intraocular pressure (IOP).
Let's take a step back and fully explain this life-changing disease.
In general, our eyes contain a certain amount of fluid. When the pressure of this fluid increases, it puts pressure on the optic nerve of the eye and damages it, causing visual messages to be sent from the eye to the brain. This pressure is called intraocular pressure (IOP).
The scariest part of this disease is that the symptoms rarely appear at the start and can only be detected through a thorough eye examination. For this reason, experts now recommend that certain risk groups have a thorough eye exam every two years to detect the disease early and avoid loss of vision. These groups include African-Americans over 40 years of age; People over 60 years of age, especially Mexican Americans; and people with a family history of glaucoma. If you are also affected by the use of Elmiron and want an Chicago Elmiron Eye Legal Help, you can search for it online.
How is glaucoma tested? The doctor looks directly into the eye through the pupil. There are various tests for glaucoma, namely: gonioscopy (using a special lens to see the angle of exit of the canal); Tonometry (a test to measure intraocular pressure); Image of the optic nerve (photo of the inside of the eye); Student reflex reaction; Retina examination; Investigation of broken lights; Visual acuity; Field of view measurement. Your doctor will explain it to you in detail.
If detected early, glaucoma treatment can be very effective. However, the main goal is to reduce intraocular pressure. Without exception, the type of glaucoma you have determines whether you want to treat it with medication or surgery. There are four main types, namely: angle-closure glaucoma (acute glaucoma); congenital glaucoma; secondary glaucoma; and open-angle (chronic) glaucoma.
In almost all cases, it is treated surgically while the patient is under general anesthesia. With early diagnosis and treatment, patients usually have no problems later on and only need to be checked from time to time.