Order Contacts
Glaucoma – The Silent Thief of Sight
Posted by: South Georgia / North Florida Eye Partners in Blog
Glaucoma is characterized by the loss of nerve tissue that results in loss of vision. It is often referred to as the “silent thief of sight” because of its lack of obvious symptoms.
As the second leading cause of blindness in the United States, Glaucoma most often occurs in people over age 40, although a congenital or infantile form of glaucoma does exist. People with a family history of glaucoma, African Americans over the age of 40 and Hispanics over the age of 60 are at an increased risk of developing glaucoma. Other risk factors include thinner corneas, chronic eye inflammation, and using medications that increase the pressure in the eyes.
How is glaucoma diagnosed? South Georgia/North Florida eye partners use a variety of tests to diagnose glaucoma including patient family history, visual acuity, evaluation of the pressure inside the eye and visual field testing among others.
One of our optometrists, Dr. Eric Kolisz, who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma says, “The biggest problem with most forms of glaucoma is that it does not change the way a patient sees or the way their eyes feel. Those are the two logical reasons that prompt an adult to schedule an eye exam. Therefore, without yearly exams, glaucoma can be actively damaging the eyes for years before detection. This changes the urgency and aggressiveness of treatment significantly.”
Dr. Kolisz continued, “Early detection is key to effective management of glaucoma and undoubtedly decreases the chances of life altering vision loss with this disease.”
Our doctors perform these comprehensive eye exams in all four of our offices. If glaucoma is detected, treatment often includes either medications to reduce elevated intraocular pressure or surgery. Surgery for glaucoma can be performed three ways: Laser, Conventional or with Drainage Implants. Visit our Glaucoma page to learn more.
Early detection, prompt treatment and regular monitoring can help to control glaucoma and reduce vision loss. South Georgia/North Florida Eye Partners diagnoses and treats all types of glaucoma through medications and surgeries if necessary. Call SGEP today to set up an appointment if you feel you are showing signs of glaucoma and would like to start taking control of your eye health.
