Glaucoma Specialists & Treatment in Port Charlotte, FL

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the US, afflicting over 3 million Americans. The risk of glaucoma increases with age and is high after age 60.

Community Eye Center in Port Charlotte, FL, has been a leader in eye care since 1980 Our highly experienced eye physicians use a patient-focused, holistic, data-driven, proven approaches to glaucoma diagnosis and treatment to ensure all patients receive the best-specialized eye care using state-of-the-art science.

Nearly half of people with this medical condition don't know they have it and only realize it when the disease has progressed to an advanced and irreversible, life-altering stage. Our eye physicians will help conduct glaucoma diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment in order to . preserve your vision and do their utmost best to prevent further vision deterioration. Early diagnosis is of vital importance in glaucoma.

Glaucoma: The Leading Cause of Blindness

Glaucoma is an eye disease that attacks the optic nerve, which leads to gradual, slow and irreversible blindness . Often, it is caused by high-pressure and aqueous fluid build-up inside the eye. This segment highlights some common risk factors for glaucoma to be on the lookout for:

Glaucoma Risk Factors

While this disease can occur without any cause, several distinct factors may contribute to its progression. Knowing these risk factors, you can seek immediate medical attention to prevent the disease from progressing and preserve your vision.

Here's an overview of the main risk factors associated with glaucoma:

• Diabetes
• Nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia)
• High blood pressure
• Migraines
• Individuals of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent can be more susceptible
• Individuals above the age of 40
• High eye pressure
• Genetics, especially if one's parents’ have glaucoma
• Previous eye trauma 
• Corticosteroid medications

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease, making it more difficult to detect in its early stages. s. By understanding glaucoma symptoms, the patient has a higher chance of detecting this progressive disease:

• Gradual loss of peripheral vision
• Red eyes
• Headaches
• Reduced or cloudy vision
• Rainbow-colored halos around light
• Sudden and severe pain in one eye
• Eyes feel swollen
• Halos around lights
• Nausea and vomiting

How is Glaucoma Diagnosed?

Since glaucoma progresses slowly, many patients don't always know they have it until it has progressed to an advanced stage. While anyone can develop glaucoma, some people have a much higher risk, especially families with a history of glaucoma.

Our glaucoma specialists recommend having routine, annual eye exams . Routine eye exams are the most effective way of knowing if you have glaucoma or if you are at high risk for it.

Routine eye exams can assess your optic nerve health and detect glaucoma vision loss. A test for glaucoma is completed by numbing your eye with eye drops and using a special lens toobserve the front anatomy of your eyes. Our eye care specialists will also measure your intraocular eye pressure and examine your optic nerve, using lenses, visual field analysis, and optical coherence tomography scan.

Types Of Glaucoma

Understanding the different types of glaucoma is one way to help patients understand the best treatment plan for their conditions.

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG)

POAG is the most common glaucoma type in the United States. It occurs gradually as the eye's drainage system deteriorates is unable to filter the normally produced aqueous fluid, which leads to high eye pressure, and that, in turn, irreversibly damages the optic nerve. POAG is painless and does not cause any vision changes at earlier stages.

Normal-Tension Glaucoma

Normal tension glaucoma is also known as normal pressure or low-tension glaucoma because of its gradual progression. Its characteristics include progressive optic nerve damage and visual field loss despite eye pressure below 20 mmHg.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma (Acute Glaucoma)

Unlike POAG or normal-tension glaucoma, acute glaucoma progresses more rapidly. Eye pressure rises very rapidly., causing eye pain, blurred vision, red eye, brow ache, headache, and even nausea and vomiting. This is a true eye emergency and very prompt treatment is the only way to avoid permanent and severe loss of vision. 

Other Types of Glaucoma

• Childhood, congenital glaucoma
• Neovascular Glaucoma
• Uveitic Glaucoma
• Pigmentary Glaucoma
• Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma
• Trauma-Related Glaucoma

Take the Next Step in Your Journey for Clear Vision

While there is still no simple cure for glaucoma, advanced eye care treatments can help keep your optic nerve protected and prevent vision loss.

Taking a routine eye exam can help catch glaucoma early, saving your sight. Our glaucoma specialists at Community Eye Center provide routine eye exams and other complex surgeries to offer comprehensive and expedient care for all patients.

Visit any of our locations or request an appointment to get in touch with our eye care professionals for more information on glaucoma treatments and other eye conditions.

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