5 Surprising Facts You Need To Know About Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that damages the optic nerve. It can lead to vision loss and blindness. When patients come to Berks Eye, they often have little to no knowledge about glaucoma. Here, the team at Berks Eye shares 5 surprising facts about glaucoma that you need to know.

1. There Are Many Types of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a broad term that is used to describe a variety of conditions. Most of these conditions involve an increase in pressure within the eye. The most common types of glaucoma include the following:

• Ocular hypertension (OHT)
• Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)
• Primary angle-closure glaucoma (narrow angle)
• Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma
• Pigmentary glaucoma
• Steroid-induced glaucoma
• Neovascular glaucoma
• Normal tension glaucoma

2. Glaucoma Often Has No Symptoms

When you hear that glaucoma often involves increased pressure in the eye, it is easy to assume that pressure is something you would feel or notice. However, that is not true. Glaucoma often has no obvious symptoms. If a patient notices symptoms, it is usually late in the disease progression.

3. Glaucoma Is a Leading Cause of Blindness

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. Anyone can get glaucoma at any age, although it is more common among adults over 60.  

4. There Is No Cure for Glaucoma

Glaucoma cannot be cured, and vision loss cannot be restored. However, further vision damage can be avoided with glaucoma treatments. Berks Eye’s extensive glaucoma treatment options include the following:

• Medicated eye drops
• Oral medications
• Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT)
• Laser iridotomy
• Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP)
• Diode cyclophotocoagulation (CPC)
• iStent® trabecular micro-bypass
• Trabeculectomy
• Aqueous shunts
• Schlemm’s canal surgery

5. The Only Way to Detect Glaucoma Is a Comprehensive Eye Exam

The only way to detect glaucoma and protect your eye health is with regular dilated eye exams. The eye doctors at Berks Eye offer patients comprehensive glaucoma eye exams.

At your glaucoma eye exam, the experienced doctor will assess your medical history and glaucoma risk factors. He or she will also measure your visual acuity, intraocular pressure and corneal thickness. Additionally, the doctor will evaluate the drainage angle, optic nerve and visual field of each eye.

Schedule Your Glaucoma Eye Exam Today

The eye doctors at Berks Eye care about you and your eye health. Don’t wait until it is too late. Please call (610) 372-0712 to schedule your glaucoma eye exam today.