Glaucoma is a serious eye disease that can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated. Everyone needs to understand the causes of glaucoma and the treatment options available. At Highland Family Eye Care, we have provided residents of St. Paul, MN with reliable eye care services for many years. Read on to learn more about glaucoma and how our optometrist can help you manage it.

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What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease that causes optic nerve damage. Most often, this damage occurs due to increased interocular pressure. Because this pressure builds very slowly, glaucoma patients often recognize no symptoms until the condition has progressed. Our eye doctor will test your interocular pressure every time you visit our office. If you’ve never had one, don’t worry – the test only feels like a small puff of air being blown into your eye.

Once the pressure in your eye has damaged the optic nerve, there isn’t a lot that can be done to restore lost vision. However, it is possible to slow down the prevention of the disease, especially if it is caught early. For this reason, people over the age of 50 are strongly encouraged to schedule regular eye exams.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

There are several different types of glaucoma, and each one has its own set of symptoms. While many people tend to think of vision loss when they think about glaucoma, the truth is that a loss of vision can be a symptom of many different eye diseases. The exact nature of the loss of vision is what helps to define and diagnose glaucoma. Be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

  • Dark spots in your peripheral vision
  • Tunnel vision
  • Severe headaches
  • Eye pain
  • Nausea
  • Blurred vision
  • Halos around lights

Schedule an Appointment with Our Optometrist in St. Paul, MN for Glaucoma Treatment

If you live in St. Paul, MN and you think that you or a loved one is suffering from glaucoma, call our office today. Our optometrist will be able to accurately diagnose your vision problems and talk with you about possible treatment options. Call Highland Family Eye Care today at (651) 699-5400 for more information on glaucoma or to schedule an appointment with our optometrist.