What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve of the eye. The optic nerve is the “cable” that takes what our eye sees and sends the signal to our brain. 3 million people are estimated to have glaucoma, BUT only half of them are aware they have the disease. Early in the disease there are no symptoms and for that reason glaucoma is often referred to as “the silent thief of sight”.
The damage to the optic nerve is progressive without treatment and the loss of vision is irreversible. For this reason it is important to be screened for glaucoma in hopes of identifying the disease in its earliest stages and initiate treatment to preserve vision.
OPTION #1
- This option makes sense for the patient that doesn't mind relying on glasses or contact lenses.
- The cataract will be removed and a standard monofocal lens implant will be used
- No additional procedures or technology will be used for vision correction purposes
- We expect to still rely on glasses or contact lenses for most visual tasks
What are the symptoms?
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma:
- Has no "real" symptoms until late in the disease, when patients can notice patchy blind spots in their peripheral vision
- Glaucoma vision simulator: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/glaucoma-vision-simulator
Angle Closure Glaucoma:
- Severe eye pain.
- Nausea and vomiting (accompanying the severe eye pain)
- Sudden onset of visual disturbance, often in low light.
- Blurred vision.
- Halos around lights.
- Reddening of the eye.
- Patchy blind spots in your side (peripheral) or central vision, frequently in both eyes.
- Call your doctor immediately if these are present or you might be at risk for permanent vision loss.