Glaucoma is an eye condition in which you slowly lose your vision over time. The condition affects those typically over the age of 60, although it could affect anyone of any age. Glaucoma can occur over time and is rarely a sudden vision loss. Glaucoma is caused by pressure on the eye, which can be measured by your optometrist. When you go to the optometrist for your eye exam, as you get older, this is something your optometrist will test you for. If you don't treat this condition, you will eventually lose your vision over time. Read on for a few signs of glaucoma and how it can be treated.

Signs Of Glaucoma

Glaucoma doesn't really have many signs, although you may begin to notice your vision is failing quicker than it had before. This can also be chalked up to you simply getting older, or your vision habits are changing as you age as well, which can also contribute to vision loss. The only sure way to know if you have glaucoma is to be tested by the optometrist and by going in for regular eye exams so your vision loss is also measured and monitored. If you are of an older age, these tests are more common, although some optometrists will not test you until you are over a specific age.

Treatment Of Glaucoma

Glaucoma, once diagnosed, should be treated right away. How your glaucoma is treated depends on the severity of your vision loss and how your eyes and this condition reacts to the treatment. Eye drops are one way to treat glaucoma. Medicated eye drops can help reduce the pressure on your eyes and help prevent further vision loss. There are a number of different type eye drops that can be used, and each can be tried in order to treat your glaucoma. Another treatment is medication that is taken orally. An oral medication will help the same way the eye drops will help. You can treat glaucoma with laser surgery, although it cannot correct your vision completely, it can reduce some of the pressure on the nerve behind the eye and stop the vision loss. There are also other treatments that may help with your glaucoma, and you can discuss these treatments with your optometrist.

If you are experiencing vision loss and you are over the age of 60, you could have glaucoma. You need to go in for routine eye exams to have your vision checked and to have a glaucoma test to see if this is what is going on with your vision. If you have glaucoma, have it treated right away at an eye care center.