Did you know that glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss if it’s not managed? Finding it early improves your chance of keeping this condition under control and protecting your vision. At Lappen Eye Care, our eye doctors in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, South Hills, and McMurray, PA, can check for glaucoma and help you manage it. The following are some of the signs it can cause.

Early Symptoms

You might not have any signs of this condition early on. That’s why it’s so important to have regular eye exams and tests to check your eye pressure. Note that as glaucoma gets worse, it can cause more noticeable symptoms.

Headaches

You might start to have headaches more often as glaucoma becomes more advanced.

Eye Redness

Do your eyes have a bloodshot look? Your eyes may appear red due to increased pressure.

Sore Eyes

Feeling pressure or pain in one or both eyes is a common sign of glaucoma as it worsens.

Blurry Vision

We recommend having our eye doctors check your eyes and test for glaucoma in McMurray, South Hills, Pittsburgh, and Greensburg, PA, if you have blurred vision.

Double Vision

Are you seeing double? This vision problem is another sign that you may have glaucoma.

Blind Spots

If glaucoma’s left untreated, you might develop blind spots in your field of vision that make it harder to see.

Low Vision

Do you have trouble seeing, even while wearing contacts or glasses? Low vision’s another possible sign of glaucoma.

Visit Our Eye Doctors for Glaucoma Treatment

Have you been experiencing signs of this condition? Seeing our optometrists at Lappen Eye Care allows us to detect it early and manage it. We offer testing and treatment for glaucoma in Greensburg, McMurray, South Hills, and Pittsburgh, PA.

Rings of color around bright lights, also known as halos, typically happen when there’s either diffraction or refraction in the eye. Here, we’ll look at how this phenomena occurs, what the causes could be, and what you need to know if you’re seeing these unwanted special effects.

Standard Causes of the Halo Effect

Halos are usually due to some sort of bend in the light. For example, if you have glaucoma in Pittsburgh, the pressure on the eyes can alter how the light passes into the eyes. However, halos are not always the sign of a serious eye disorder in Pittsburgh, PA. It can be as simple as your eyes are a little dry from a long day at work, and you just need a good night’s sleep to fix it.

Why It Matters

Suppose you’re experiencing halos regularly, especially if they’re getting worse or they are interfering with critical tasks (like driving). In that case, you’ll want to see an optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA to learn more about what’s causing the problem. Or, if you have accompanying symptoms, such as headaches or eye pain when seeing halos, don’t ignore these issues — even if you’re only seeing halos every so often. The longer you go without treatment, the greater the odds of irreversible vision loss.

See an Optometrist in Pittsburgh

At Lappen Eye Care, our staff can do much more than just give you an eye exam or recommend a stronger prescription. We monitor our patients’ eye health, identifying anything from age-related macular degeneration to diabetic retinopathy as early as possible. If you’ve been putting off seeing your eye doctor for any reason, it’s important to give your eyes their best chance at staying healthy for as long as possible.

Are you at risk of having glaucoma? Or have you already been diagnosed with this eye disease? Glaucoma is a common cause of permanent vision loss — but there are ways to reduce this risk. Our optometrists in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, South Hills, and McMurray, PA, at Lappen Eye Care provide guidance on protecting your eyesight from glaucoma-related vision loss.

Schedule Routine Eye Exams

These visits are an important way to find glaucoma during the early stages before it has a chance to affect your vision. If we detect it early, we can begin helping you manage it and reduce the risk of losing your eyesight.

Fill Up on Fruits and Vegetables

Berries, leafy vegetables, and other produce contain nutrients that help support healthy eyes and vision. Including plenty of these in your regular diet can help your eyes stay in better condition, even if you have glaucoma.

Use Steroid Medications With Caution

Taking these medications for an extended period of time might increase pressure in your eyes, making glaucoma worse and putting your vision at risk. Let our eye doctors know if you use this type of medicine.

Exercise With Care

Doing certain strenuous activities may raise your eye pressure. Aim for moderate physical activity that helps lower this pressure instead, such as going for daily walks around your neighborhood.

Visit Our Eye Doctors for Glaucoma Care

Do you need help managing this eye disease and protecting your vision? Our optometrists at Lappen Eye Care offer glaucoma treatment in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, South Hills, and McMurray, PA. We can give you advice on keeping your eyesight safe from vision loss if you have glaucoma or a higher risk of developing this disease.

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and left untreated—starting with not being diagnosed—it can lead to vision loss and even blindness. One of the most concerning aspects of glaucoma is that it typically shows no symptoms in its early stages. While you may have thought your optometrist just wants to torture you when testing for glaucoma in Pittsburgh, PA, that things is that regular testing is essential to detect and manage the disease before it causes irreversible damage. This is why your eye doctor tests for glaucoma every time you visit. It’s a good idea that can help keep you from losing your eyesight!

The Importance of Regular Testing

Glaucoma is known as the “silent thief of sight” because it can progress without noticeable symptoms. You may not have any sign at all that something’s amiss. By the time you experience vision changes, the damage may already be severe. Regular glaucoma tests allow your eye doctor to catch the condition in its early stages when treatments are most effective.

Types of Glaucoma Tests

During your eye exam, your doctor may use several tests to check for glaucoma. The most common is tonometry, which measures the pressure inside your eye. This is the one that people hate most; the surprise blast of air directed at the eye. Another test, called ophthalmoscopy, allows the doctor to examine your optic nerve for signs of damage. Visual field testing measures peripheral vision, which is often affected first in glaucoma. Gonioscopy helps assess the angle where the iris meets the cornea to determine the type of glaucoma.

Since glaucoma can’t be cured, early detection is vital to preserving your vision. By testing for glaucoma at every visit, your eye doctor in Pittsburgh, PA ensures that any changes are caught promptly, allowing for early treatment and a better chance of protecting your sight.

Glaucoma can have hereditary factors. A family history of glaucoma increases the risk of developing the condition, especially if the family history is a first-line relative like a parent. Genetic factors play a significant role, and individuals with a family history need to have regular eye exams in Greensburg, PA to monitor for signs of glaucoma so treatment can be targeted with a proactive approach. Take a look at how genetics may affect your likelihood of developing glaucoma below.

Understanding the Hereditary Nature of Glaucoma

Certain genes have been linked to an increased risk of glaucoma, which suggests a hereditary component of this common eye disease. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, the genes associated with certain forms of glaucoma include FOXC1, PITX3, MAF, LMX1B, FOXE3, PITX2, and PAX6. Therefore, if a close family member has glaucoma, your chances of developing it may be higher, even though several other risk factors should also be considered.

Other Risk Factors for Developing Glaucoma

While family genetics may be important when it comes to glaucoma, several other known risk factors exist, including:

• Age: Individuals over 60 are at higher risk.
• Ethnicity: African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians are more susceptible.
• High eye pressure: Elevated intraocular pressure increases the risk.
• Certain health conditions: Uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease may contribute.
• Previous eye injuries: Trauma to the eye can increase the risk of glaucoma.
• Long-term use of corticosteroids: Extended use can elevate the likelihood of developing glaucoma.

Discuss Your Risks with an Experienced Greensburg Eye Doctor

Knowing your family’s eye health history is crucial when it comes to monitoring for certain eye diseases. Individuals with a family history of glaucoma should inform their Greensburg eye doctor to ensure proper monitoring and early intervention.