Glaucoma is a serious, degenerative eye condition, and one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. It’s part of a group of eye diseases where the optic nerve is damaged. Each case is different, and the impact of glaucoma on vision varies significantly among individuals. One thing is certain; early detection is a huge factor in the success rates of treatment. If you suspect you have it, seek diagnosis and glaucoma treatment in Pittsburgh, PA.

How Long Will My Vision Last With Glaucoma?

Your eye doctor will become an integral part of your glaucoma management. Unfortunately, the damage caused by glaucoma isn’t reversible. However early intervention can help to control or stop its progression. How long your vision lasts with glaucoma is also dependent upon what type you have, and the severity. Open-angle glaucoma comes on slowly with few symptoms until significant vision loss occurs. Angle-closure glaucoma often develops rapidly and causes immediate symptoms.

Treatment For Glaucoma

You’ll work closely with your eye doctor in Pittsburgh, PA to manage your glaucoma. Treatment may include medical eye care, eye drops, medications, laser treatments, or surgery to lower intraocular pressure (IOP). Your treatment plan will be customized to meet your individual needs.

Results With Treatment

Every individual will respond to glaucoma treatment differently. But the more you follow your eye doctor’s instructions, the better the outcome you can expect. Some people may experience rapid progression of the disease despite treatment. Others might be able to enjoy a relatively stable vision for many years.

It’s important to remain hopeful despite a diagnosis of glaucoma. With regular eye doctor appointments, lifestyle adjustments and closely adhering to the doctor’s treatment protocol, you can have the best vision possible with the disease. For more information, please contact our office.

When it comes to nutrition, it’s easy to find endless claims about which foods are the best and how different diets correlate to different disorders. Of course, what isn’t easy is deciphering which claims to follow. If you’re wondering if you can prevent glaucoma by changing up your dinner, we’ll look at what you should know about the two.

Glaucoma and Nutrition
The long and short is that there is no direct link between glaucoma and nutrition, though there does seem to be some correlation. The standard advice is to eat foods that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants because they protect against oxidative stress that may lead to optic nerve damage. This includes many fruits and veggies, preferably leafy greens like chard, kale, or spinach. You might also consider adding in nuts, fish, and black beans into the mix.

Fast Facts about Your Optic Nerves
Glaucoma occurs when the fluids in your eye build up, putting too much pressure on the optic nerve. The first few symptoms tend to be blind spots in the field of vision, largely because the fluids in your eye aren’t flowing and draining as well as they once did. There are different types of glaucoma, with some progressing far more rapidly than others. No matter how healthy your diet is, it’s important to pay attention to any changes in your vision and schedule an eye appointment in Pittsburgh, PA, as soon as possible.

Eye Exams in Pittsburgh
Regular eye exams can catch early signs of glaucoma, especially when you visit the same facility year after year. If you’re looking for an optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA, who can monitor how your eyes change, the staff at Lappen Eye Care is here to help.

Glaucoma is a disease that causes vision loss due to pressure on the optic nerves. The two most prevalent types of glaucoma are angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Each has unique symptoms and treatment approaches.

Diagnosing and Treating ACG

This type of glaucoma causes angle closure in multiple areas, leading to optic nerve damage and eye pressure. Complete or total vision loss may follow. The most common symptoms associated with ACG include:

• Blurry or hazy vision
• Seeing rainbow-colored circles when exposed to bright lights
• Severe head and eye pain with or without nausea and vomiting
• Sudden loss of sight

Increased eye pressure with ACG can develop slowly over time or come on suddenly. During the early stages of ACG, one or more angles may close but you do not yet feel increased pressure in your eyes. Please contact our optometry practice in Pittsburg, PA for an immediate appointment if you have any of the above symptoms. The most common way to treat OCG is with prescription eye drops to decrease eye pressure and optic nerve damage.

Diagnosing and Treating POAG

POAG typically presents no warning signs in the early stages. This type develops slowly over many years before you notice a decrease in your visual acuity. Unfortunately, optometrists cannot reverse vision loss from POAG with medication or surgery. Regular eye exams in Pittsburgh, PA are critical at detecting this disease before it robs you of sight.

When one of the optometrists at Lappen Eye Care detects glaucoma during a routine eye examination, we can prescribe specialty eye drops or other medication to help protect your vision. People of Latino or African-American heritage have a higher risk of developing POAG, as do those with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or who have a close family member with the disease.