A Potentially Blinding Disease, Glaucoma is Treatable with Early Diagnosis

Your eyes produce a fluid called Aqueous Humor, which provides nutrition for the eye. When there is more fluid produced than that which drains or if the fluid is blocked, pressure builds up in the eye. This condition is known as glaucoma.

Glaucoma kills optic nerve cells in the back of the eye. This may be due to pressure inside the eye exerted by the excess fluid. When too many of these cells die, vision may be lost.

Early Diagnosis is Crucial when Treating Glaucoma

There is no cure for glaucoma, and there is often no pain or noticeable symptoms associated with glaucoma until vision is lost. So regular eye exams are the best way to identify and control the disease. And because glaucoma may develop over years, or even decades, it is possible to live a normal life and maintain normal vision with ongoing treatment and care.

Treatment in the early stages of glaucoma usually includes eye drops, which help to slow down the progression of the disease. Occasionally, surgery is needed to drain the excess fluid. In all cases, early diagnosis is key to preventing loss of vision.

BayCare's Green Bay Eye Clinic has highly trained glaucoma specialists who provide extensive eye examinations designed to detect glaucoma in its earliest stages. These exams include painless pressure checks, medical history and examination of the optic nerve.

BayCare's Green Bay Eye Clinic also offers the latest in state-of-the-art technology to diagnose glaucoma; unlike the "puff of air" test, the tonal pen and OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), which magnifies cross sections of the eye for analysis and evaluation, gives a much more accurate diagnosis of elevated pressures associated with glaucoma.

Treatment of Glaucoma Requires Your Perseverance

Glaucoma is a life-long condition that needs continuous management. You must have your symptoms monitored.

But again, with early detection and the ongoing treatment and care provided by BayCare's Green Bay Eye Clinic, you can protect your vision.

For more information on conditions of the eye, and our various corrective procedures to treat them, be sure to view our Eyemaginations Library, a 3-D guided tour of your eyes, how they work, and the various eye conditions and treatments you should know about.

For all your eye care needs, from contact lenses and glasses to the latest in LASIK laser eye surgery, contact BayCare's Green Bay Eye Clinic today to schedule an appointment.