Glaucoma in Haslet, TX
Glaucoma doesn’t usually cause any symptoms in its earliest stages. Then, before you know it, your vision starts to decline, eventually resulting in blindness if you don’t seek care. Fortunately, with early detection, glaucoma is easily treatable by your eye doctor in Haslet TX. All you have to do is schedule regular glaucoma screenings on the schedule provided by your vision care specialist.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that slowly result in vision loss and eventual blindness. In the United States, the most common type is open-angle glaucoma, which is likely caused by the buildup of pressure in the eye. As the pressure increases, the optic nerve gets damaged, resulting in the decline of your vision.
Other types of glaucoma include:
- Normal-tension glaucoma
- Angle-closure glaucoma
- Congenital glaucoma
Glaucoma can also arise as a secondary condition when other medical problems cause damage to the optic nerve.
Since glaucoma does not cause any symptoms beyond a decline in your vision, it’s often only detected once damage to the optic nerve starts in earnest. If caught before that, it’s possible to prevent low vision and blindness by reducing internal pressure and draining any fluid buildup.
Importance of Regular Glaucoma Screening Tests
Since open-angle glaucoma and many other types do not cause any symptoms in the earliest stages, it’s important to see your eye doctor for glaucoma screening tests in Haslet TX. To screen for this condition, you’ll need to have a dilated eye exam, so bring your sunglasses because your eyes will likely feel sensitive to light afterward.
Like a regular eye exam, this screening test involves a vision check and overall assessment of your eye health. The main difference is that your pupils will be dilated first with special eye drops. This allows your eye doctor to take a closer look at the optic nerve and other structures in both of your eyes.
If your eye doctor diagnoses glaucoma in one or both eyes, they’ll let you know what treatments are available to you. Depending on the type of glaucoma you have, they may recommend prescription eye drops that reduce internal pressures or laser treatment to remove excess fluid. If those treatments do not work, you may need to have surgery to help the fluid drain out and restore your normal eye pressures.
Need Glaucoma Screening Tests in Haslet TX?
If you’d like to get a glaucoma screening test done, just call 817-439-5400 to reach our Haslet TX eye care clinic. Our team at Joy Family Eye Care will help you find a great time to swing by and have an exam performed by our skilled eye doctors. We are always here to help you preserve your excellent vision for life, so please feel free to call anytime for care.
