Glaucoma Specialist
-
- Tweet
Hecker Eye Care Associates
Ophthalmologists located in Greensboro, NC
Did you know that glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States? This serious eye disease affects the optic nerve that controls your vision and often begins without any recognizable symptoms. The good news is that when glaucoma is detected early, the condition can be managed and the related loss of vision can often be prevented. This makes it important to get regular eye examinations from the experienced eye care providers at Hecker Eye Care Associates in Greensboro, North Carolina. To take care of your eyes and be screened for glaucoma, book an appointment online or call the office now.
Glaucoma Q & A
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a serious disease that affects the back of your eye, damaging the nerve tissue that controls your sight.
While it can come in a variety of forms, the most common type of glaucoma — 90% of all cases — is called primary open-angle glaucoma. This occurs when the eye drainage canals become clogged over time and cause pressure in the eye to increase.
You may not notice this lifelong condition initially, and it worsens over time if left untreated. That’s why many adults put their trust in the highly trained physicians at Hecker Eye Care Associates and come in for a thorough eye examination as soon as possible.
Who is at risk for glaucoma?
Glaucoma can affect people of any age and health status, but there are certain groups that are at increased risk for this disease.
This includes:
- People of African or Asian descent
- Senior citizens of Hispanic descent
- People over age 60
- Those with a family history of glaucoma
- Anyone who uses high doses of a steroid asthma inhaler
- People who have experienced eye injury
In addition, people who are nearsighted, suffer from hypertension, or have a thin cornea can also be at increased risk for glaucoma.
How is glaucoma diagnosed?
If you’re at an increased risk for glaucoma, it’s important to see the experts at Hecker Eye Care Associates for a comprehensive eye examination — complete with dilation — every one to two years.
Can glaucoma be cured?
There is no cure for glaucoma, and any vision loss you suffer cannot be reversed. But once the disease is diagnosed, further progression can often be stopped by the Hecker Eye Care Associates team using medication and/or surgery. This can be crucial to saving your sight.
How is glaucoma treated?
The expert eye care team at Hecker Eye Care Associates rely on state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment methods to identify and manage glaucoma.
In many cases, medications are used to control eye pressure for men and women with glaucoma. When medication alone isn’t enough to address the problem, some patients may need laser (selective laser trabeculoplasty or SLT) or surgery.
SLT
Hecker Eye Care Associates is proud to offer SLT as an option.
iStent
iStent inject
To schedule a complete eye exam, including a glaucoma screening, book an appointment with Hecker Eye Care Associates online or call the office today.
