Glaucoma

There are many types of glaucoma. Often, the cause of high pressure in the eye can help tell the type of glaucoma and the best treatment for it.

Doctors don't know exactly how glaucoma damages the optic nerve. For many people, increased eye pressure seems to play an important role.

Age, race, family history, and medical history are all risk factors that may increase your chance of having glaucoma.

This self assessment will help you determine whether you are at risk for age-related eye disease. If you suspect that you are no seeing correctly or are having an eye problem, you should arrange for a professional eye exam, regardless of the results of this risk assessment.

There are three major signs that a person may have glaucoma: optic nerve damage, vision loss (visual field loss) and increased eye pressure (elevated intraocular pressure). Your eye doctor has a number of tests to check for these signs.

Glaucoma can usually be treated and controlled using medicine(s), laser surgery, glaucoma surgery or a combination of these treatments.

A simple technique can help keep more medicine in your eye and make glaucoma medicines more effective.

You must work with your eye doctor if you have glaucoma. Eye doctors know how to treat glaucoma, but they have to work with you to find the best way to treat your disease.

The Welcome to Medicare Physical covers screening for glaucoma.

Contact information for organizations and services that may be able to help with the cost of vision care.