{"id":7094,"date":"2022-09-30T16:58:30","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T20:58:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eyeconsultantsofpa.com\/?page_id=7094"},"modified":"2022-09-30T17:00:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T21:00:37","slug":"glaucoma-specialist-in-douglassville-pa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.eyeconsultantsofpa.com\/glaucoma-specialist-in-douglassville-pa\/","title":{"rendered":"Glaucoma Specialist in Douglassville, PA\ufffc"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we determine a patient has glaucoma, our surgeons are almost always asked this question: \u201cWill I go blind?\u201d Patients definitely have this fear regarding glaucoma. We understand. For most patients, the answer is no, because they\u2019ve had regular eye exams which allows early detection of the disease. If you\u2019re in or near Douglassville, PA, glaucoma specialists are ready to help you at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania<\/a> in our nearby Pottstown office.<\/p>\n

How does a person get glaucoma?<\/h2>\n

There are several types of glaucoma. Most types are a chronic disease. Glaucoma requires long-term eye care. Patients who come in for regular eye exams are more likely to be diagnosed \u2013 and diagnosed earlier. When the disease is detected early, we can preserve any remaining vision that has not already been lost.<\/p>\n

Glaucoma is a silent disease. It progresses slowly over many years, with no symptoms. Any vision loss is so gradual that it is often attributed to other things, like aging. Symptoms usually don\u2019t occur until the late stages of the disease, and by then, significant vision damage may have already taken place.<\/p>\n

Glaucoma is caused by a fluid buildup in the eye. The eye normally has a healthy balance of fluid flow, but if the eye\u2019s fluid system is not working optimally, the fluid cannot drain and pressure inside the eye builds up.<\/p>\n

As this buildup of fluid occurs, the high pressure causes damage to the cells of the optic nerve. Over a prolonged period, this damage can result in vision loss. Glaucoma typically occurs in both eyes, but the pressure buildup does tend to first happen in one eye.Without eye exams, people don\u2019t think there is a problem. They simply think their vision loss is normal, due to aging or other factors and not to a disease.<\/p>\n

A person usually first notices a change in peripheral vision, and over time, central vision becomes affected.<\/p>\n

Who is at risk for glaucoma?<\/h2>\n

Over three million US adults are affected by glaucoma each year. People over age 60 are at the greatest risk, as are people who have a family history of the disease. Also, people of African, Asian or Hispanic descent are at higher risk in general and at higher risk of developing glaucoma before age 60. Other risk factors include:<\/p>\n