Important Things to Know About Glaucoma in Boulder

One of the most damaging eye conditions known is glaucoma. This is a condition where the fluid inside of the eye doesn’t drain properly, causing a buildup of pressure that can easily damage the optic nerves. The optic nerves are what send electrical signals to the brain, so it’s very important to keep them intact at all times.

What many people don’t know is that there are several different types of glaucoma, it’s not just a general condition that people develop. The type of glaucoma a person has is also going to determine which treatment they get for it.

 Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

 This is the most common type of glaucoma Boulder, and also the most common among people who develop glaucoma at all. This type of glaucoma is where the fluid in someone’s eye is not draining sufficiently or at all, which leads to the buildup of pressure that can cause damage to the optic nerves. People with this condition often lose their vision gradually over the years, but there are several treatment options available for it.

Angle Closure Glaucoma

This is a less common type of Glaucoma in Boulder, though optometrists do see it from time to time. This type of glaucoma is caused when the entrance to the drainage canal in the eye is either blocked completely or partially. One of the most common symptoms of this type of glaucoma is pupil dilation, though sudden eye pain and headaches are also common as well. People who think they may have this type of glaucoma need to be on the lookout for blurriness and other negative vision symptoms.

Normal Tension Glaucoma

This is a type of glaucoma that can be hard for a patient to detect because the optic nerves are becoming damaged even though the pressure in the eye is not extremely elevated. The symptoms will not be so obvious with this type of glaucoma, but they can be easily spotted by an eye doctor. This is one of the main reasons people with a family history of glaucoma need to be sure they are getting seen by an eye doctor at least once per year. Those who have a Japanese family background are also prone to developing this condition more than others.

 Secondary Glaucoma

Secondary glaucoma is where a patient develops abnormal eye pressure due to another condition, such as cancer or cataracts. There have even been cases of people developing this condition after having an eye surgery. People who are having other conditions with their eyes treated need to be sure that they are watching out for this particular type of glaucoma. In most cases, regulating the pressure caused by secondary glaucoma is easy to do and will not require overly extensive care. Surgery or new medications are often the easiest way to treat a secondary glaucoma. While there are several different types of glaucoma, they are all serious and need to be treated as such. Damage to the optic nerves cannot be undone, and nobody wants to lose their vision if they don’t have to.