Glaucoma: What Adults With A Family History Of This Condition Need To Know
Have one of your parents or grandparents been diagnosed with glaucoma? Then it's important that you be on the lookout for signs of this condition, too. Glaucoma is largely a heritable condition. While having a parent or grandparent that has glaucoma does not guarantee you'll develop it too, you do have a higher risk of glaucoma than the average person. Here's what you need to know:
What is glaucoma, exactly?
Glaucoma seems a bit of a mystery to many since it doesn't cause many symptoms until its late stages. Your parent or grandparent may have been diagnosed with glaucoma, even though he or she can still see perfectly fine and is not in any pain.
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve. Usually, this damage is caused by an increase in pressure in the eye, which can be caused by an excess of fluid in the eye. Many different factors can be to blame for that excess of fluid.
How is glaucoma diagnosed?
When your eye doctor performs the test where a puff of air is shot into your eye, he or she is testing your eye pressure. If your eye pressure is elevated, this is a good indication that you either have glaucoma or are on the verge of developing it. Subsequent tests to visualize your optic nerve and check for damage will determine if you do, indeed, have glaucoma.
Since glaucoma can progress rapidly, it's important to attend your annual eye exams – especially when you have a family history of this condition.
How is glaucoma treated or managed?
If your eye doctor determines that you have increased eye pressure, he or she can treat you to ensure that eye pressure does not lead to nerve damage. There are a few types of medications that can be prescribed based on your overall health and specific needs:
- Beta blockers
- Alpha agonists
- Prostaglandin analogs
These medications either increase the rate at which fluid drains from the eye or they decrease fluid production. If the medications are not effective for you, your doctor may recommend surgery in which a small hole is made in the back of the eye to increase fluid draining.
Once you lose vision due to glaucoma, there is no way to regain it. Luckily, if the disease is caught early, vision damage can be greatly minimized with treatment. Take advantage of the fact that you know you have a family history of glaucoma. Attend your regular eye exams, and follow your eye doctor's instructions closely if you are diagnosed. For more information, contact local professionals like Webster Eye Care.
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