02 Jan The Truth About Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye condition caused by damage to the optic nerve, which carriers visual information to the brain. This is often caused by high pressure in the eye and can lead to severe visual impairment if left untreated.

Although glaucoma is usually seen in mature eyes– it is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60 — it can occur at any age. Unfortunately, patients are often asymptomatic in the early stages and treatment is delayed until diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Symptoms of glaucoma vary depending on the stage. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to:

• Patchy blind spots in your peripheral or central vision. This can happen in one or both eyes
• Tunnel vision (mostly found in advanced stages)
• Severe headaches
• Eye pain
• Blurred vision
• Halos around lights
• Eye redness

If left untreated, these symptoms can cause blindness.

There is no cure for glaucoma because vision loss cannot be recovered once it has been lost. This is why it is essential to get regular eye exams so that if you have early stage glaucoma, a diagnosis can be made, and you can begin treatment to slow its progression.

Book an appointment for an eye exam at Dr. D’Orio Eye Care today by calling 416.656.2020 or 416.661.5555 to ensure professional treatment.