There are many ways to lose your vision, some more dangerous than others.
Cataracts, for example, occur in everyone. They are a natural part of aging, and left untreated will cause you to go blind.
Fortunately, cataracts are easily treated with a simple procedure. Keep reading to learn more about cataract surgery and glaucoma!
Glaucoma Can Be More Dangerous Than Cataracts
On the other side of the coin is glaucoma. Glaucoma is not as common as cataracts, but the effects are more catastrophic.
If it remains undetected, glaucoma can also rob you of your eyesight. Glaucoma is irreversible, but there are treatment options available using medication.
The Standard Cataract Treatment
A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye. This occurs with age.
Cataracts occur when certain proteins in the lens begin to clump together. Once they clump together enough, it makes it harder for light to get through.
Since the cataract is so ingrained in the lens, it is impossible to remove only the cataract itself. There is no medicine that will remove the clumps of proteins.
During your procedure, your surgeon creates a small incision in the cornea. After creating the incision, they will gently break up the pieces of the cataract using a probe.
Your surgeon will remove the pieces of the lens, implant the new lens, and close the cornea.
Cataract surgery is one of the safest medical procedures in the world. Over 97% of cases are successful and free of complications.
Glaucoma Treatments
Glaucoma occurs when it causes damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the series of connections that links your eye to your brain.
In most cases of glaucoma, this occurs as a gradual, almost imperceptible change. There are no other side effects for normal glaucoma, which makes it all the more dangerous.
This is where glaucoma gets the nickname “the silent thief of sight”. This slow degradation of the optic nerve occurs due to a slow increase of pressure in the eye. This pressure is due to blockage in the drainage meshwork of the eye.
Fluid gets pumped through the eye faster than it can drain out. The amount of pressure needed to begin damaging the optic nerve varies from person to person. But the increase in pressure does not stop, and eventually, vision loss will occur.
The effects of glaucoma cannot be undone and there is no cure for it. But you can manage glaucoma with medication to lower your eye pressure.
Glaucoma eye drops either lower pressure by 1. relaxing your eye and allowing the fluids to drain, 2. by slowing down the production of eye fluid, or, 3. a combination of both.
There are no procedures that will fix glaucoma, but it may be necessary if you need a quick reduction in intraocular pressure.
Cataract and Glaucoma Treatments Don’t Interfere With Each Other
Cataract and glaucoma treatments will not interfere with each other. They are too different.
One condition will not worsen the other. Their methods of causing vision loss are completely separate.
Cataract surgery may even relieve some pressure in a glaucoma patient’s eyes for a short time.
If you are experiencing changes in your vision, set up an appointment with an eye care professional immediately.
Schedule an appointment at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Manhattan, NY, today!
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