What to do in Laguna Hills when you suspect glaucoma symptoms

Without clear vision, your entire life can be impacted. Even if problems begin to occur in peripheral vision, and your central vision is clear, it is a problem. Should the lack of clarity within peripheral vision progress, as it can do in glaucoma, you may be left with “tunnel vision.”

Problems with peripheral vision can be detected early, perhaps as difficulty seeing when a room is dimly lit, or difficulty navigating your way around when walking. A 2011 report out of Brisbane Australia shows us the significance of vision loss associated with glaucoma. Over a period of twelve months, 71 people diagnosed with glaucoma were followed. Participant age averaged 74. In this year, 44 percent of participants fell at least one time. 31 percent of those falls resulted in injury; fortunately none of them severe.

The study, published in the November 2011 issue of Optometry and Vision Science, found that falls were more likely in those whose vision was less functional. When the inferior field of vision was impacted (the lower field that lets you visualize the ground), there was a 57 percent higher risk of falling, and an 80 percent increase in the risk of injury from a fall.

Although there are two primary types of glaucoma, there are several variations of this eye condition. The most common diagnoses are of acute angle-closure glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma. The “angle” is associated with how the eye drains.

In most cases, glaucoma does not produce pain. Because of this, it may take a person some time to realize there is a problem, and by that time it is usually too late. The absence of pain also makes it easy to forget to use medication as directed. Dr. Salib may address glaucoma in a number of ways at the Orange County Eye Institute. If you live in the Laguna Hills area and recognize at least one or more glaucoma symptoms such as loss of peripheral vision, you are encouraged to contact us for state-of-the-art glaucoma testing. Even if you do not have any symptoms, you should come in for a complete eye examination to determine if you need glaucoma testing, especially if you have a family history of glaucoma or have a history of diabetes or high blood pressure.

The sooner you address minor issues with vision, the more quickly optimal results can be achieved with appropriate treatment. Contact us for your eye exam today.

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