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By Joyce Brooks


Glaucoma is one of the eye conditions that is most feared the world over. When you first get diagnosed with this condition, your world can come crumbling. The condition is known to be the cause of painless and relentless vision loss. It has been classified as the second most lethal cause of blindness that is preventable. In consideration of glaucoma San Antonio TX residents need to know some useful information about it, including treatment options and causes.

This condition is caused by many reasons, with some being common and others rare. Glaucoma is actually not a disease but a group of conditions that are only common because they lead to damage of optical nerve. The optic nerve is what sends signals of images to the brain from the eyes. With the condition, nerves start getting damaged as time passes. The loss of vision takes time, which is what makes it hard to manage.

Glaucoma occurs because of two different sets of causes. The first is when the defect lies within the eyes, which is the more common cause. The other cause is when the defect lies at the optical disc. This is less common. In the case when the defect lies in the eyes, it will involve increase in eye pressure and the optic nerve will get damaged. This is caused by the increased pressure. The increased pressure will damage the optic nerve through reduction of blood supply to the optic nerve. Direct pressure also damages nerve cells.

You should know what causes increase in pressure in eyes. Under normal circumstances, there are fluids constantly being formed in eyes and later being drained out. The fluid is called the aqueous humor. It is never the same as tears. Tears are within eyes while the aqueous humor is outside. As it drains, what results is an imbalance in formation of fluids. There will be pressure rise.

The other type is closed angle glaucoma. The part of the eye from where fluids drain is called angle. There is open angle type that is more common and will involve formation of cells in an abnormal way. This happens in such a way that there is not enough drainage of fluids. Pressure in eyes thus increases. It is open angle but which is abnormal, hence the name. In closed cases, drainage angle gets closed in an automatic way that also interferes with fluid drainage within eyes. This version is common in Asian countries.

There are three main treatment options that can be considered. These are use of eye drops, laser treatment and surgery. Medications are administered as eye drops. In rare cases, pills might be prescribed. This is usually as a temporary measure. The medications work by decreasing amount of fluid that is produced by eyes. They also improve drainage of fluids.

In the laser surgery options, there is use of light beams of low-energy. There are channels for drainage in eyes that ensure there is better outflow that lowers intraocular pressure. It is a procedure performed at the office of the surgeon.

The use of surgery for treatment is normally considered after laser treatment and use of medications fail to provide any results. Surgery is supposed to also improve drainage within eyes. It will include placement of shunts and stents in eyes.




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