Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness across the United States but, thankfully, dedicated eye doctors have access to treatment that can prevent this degenerative condition from worsening in many patients.
The first step toward taking advantage of the advanced Glaucoma Treatment Honolulu eye doctors offer to patients of all ages is to get a medical diagnosis of glaucoma. Patients can read on to find out about a few of the signs and symptoms below for help determining whether or not they should see a medical professional for an official diagnosis.
Common Symptoms
The symptoms of glaucoma vary based on whether patients have open-angle glaucoma or acute angle-closure glaucoma. The former tends to manifest itself as patchy blind spots in a patient’s peripheral or central vision in its early stages and tunnel vision in its advanced stages. The latter may come with symptoms as diverse as eye pain and redness to extreme headaches, nausea, and vomiting. If left untreated, both of these forms of glaucoma will eventually lead to total blindness.
Getting a Diagnosis
When patients head to their eye doctors regarding symptoms of glaucoma, their doctors will usually conduct an extensive eye examination and review of the patient’s medical history. They will also measure the patient’s intraocular pressure, test for optic nerve damage, measure corneal thickness, inspect drainage angles, and check for vision loss.
Treatment for Glaucoma
Unfortunately, the damage caused by glaucoma is not reversible. However, with Glaucoma Treatment Honolulu patients can expect to slow or even prevent additional vision loss, particularly when the disease is caught early. The goal of treatment is to reduce intraocular pressure, usually using eye drops, laser treatment, or surgery depending on the severity of the case.
Deciding on the Right Treatment
Before deciding on a Glaucoma Treatment Honolulu, patients should confer extensively with their doctors. Medical professionals can offer personalized advice regarding which treatment option will be most appropriate given their patients’ overall health and what stage of glaucoma they have. Patients who are suffering from glaucoma symptoms and are concerned about getting dedicated treatment as soon as possible to put a stop to vision degeneration can contact Hawaii Vision Clinic to schedule a consultation with a dedicated specialist today.
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