Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, which is the part of the eye that carries the images we see from the eye to the brain. The optic nerve is made up of many nerve fibers (like an electric cable containing numerous wires). Glaucoma damages nerve fibers, which can cause blind spots in our vision and vision loss to develop.
Glaucoma has to do with the pressure inside the eye, or intraocular pressure (IOP). When the clear liquid called the aqueous humor--which normally flows in and out of the eye--cannot drain properly, pressure builds up in the eye. The resulting increase in IOP can damage the optic nerve.
The most common form of glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma, where the aqueous fluid that normally circulates in the front portion of the eye is blocked from flowing back out of the eye through a tiny drainage system. This causes the pressure inside your eye to increase, which can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. Most people who develop primary open-angle glaucoma notice no symptoms until their vision is impaired.
In angle-closure glaucoma, the iris (the colored part of the eye) may drop over and completely close off the drainage angle, abruptly blocking the flow of aqueous fluid and leading to increased IOP or optic nerve damage. In acute angle-closure glaucoma there is a sudden increase in IOP due to the buildup of aqueous fluid. This condition is considered an emergency because optic nerve damage and vision loss can occur within hours of the problem. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, seeing haloes around light, and eye pain.
Even people with"normal" IOP can experience vision loss from glaucoma. This condition is called normal tension glaucoma. In this type of glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged even though the IOP is considered normal. Normal tension glaucoma is not well understood, but we do know that lowering IOP has been shown to slow progression of this form of glaucoma.
Childhood glaucoma is rare, and starts in infancy, childhood or adolescence. Like primary open-angle glaucoma, there are few, if any, symptoms in the early stage. Blindness can result if it is left untreated. Like most types of glaucoma, this type of glaucoma may run in families. Your ophthalmologist may tell you that you are at risk for glaucoma if you have one or more risk factors, including elevated IOP, a family history of glaucoma, a particular ethnic background, advanced age, or certain optic nerve conditions. Regular examinations with your ophthalmologist are important if you are at risk for this condition
An independent review of last year's results at the Boston Eye Group shows that 92%-96% of our patients were able to see 20/25 or better. 100% of patients were able to see 20/40 or better. This will usually enable you to pass a driver's license eye examination without glasses or contact lenses. Most patients are able to perform their daily activities and enjoy many sports with minimal, if any, reliance on glasses.
Contact us to learn more about Laser Vision Correction and other surgical treatment options to improve your vision. Our specialists have extensive experience and training, and our patients report great satisfaction with their laser eye surgery. Dr Melki is on the clinical faculty at Harvard Medical School and has conducted thousands of laser eye surgery procedures. Learn more about Laser Eye Surgery and financing options. We have a page on this website dedicated to discussing LASIK patient financing. You can even fill out an online application to qualify for LASIK financing. We offer 0% financing, on approved credit with low fixed monthly payments, no down payment and no pre-payment penalty.
In addition to superior experience, ensuring the utmost success and safety during laser vision correction involves using state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained personnel. This is translated into a higher cost than found at the so-called "discount Lasik chains". We believe that our patients understand that a compromise on quality is unacceptable when it comes to one's vision. It is our commitment to best service and technology that determines our pricing model.
Are you ready to reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses or contact lenses? The iLASIK Procedure is the result of a decade's worth of technical refinement; it combines all of the most advanced all-laser LASIK technology in one efficient LASIK procedure... It simply doesn't get any better, so now is the time.
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Our web site was created as a patient education resource for any interested patient. Feel free to explore the entire website to get the answers to the questions that you have been seeking. If you have service, LASIK, cosmetic, or cataract questions call us we can help!(617) 277-4733
12.04.2011 um 4:03