Glaucoma affects over 2 million Americans, with an estimated 2 million others who remain undiagnosed. (Statistics from the National Eye Institute.) Glaucoma has no symptoms. Annual eye exams are key for detection.
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. It affects ones peripheral vision in earlier stages of the disease, but can lead to blindness if undetected for many years.
Many factors are considered when diagnosing glaucoma:
- Intraocular pressures
- Appearance of the optic nerve through a dilated fundus examination
- Visual fields
- Imaging of optic nerve with a special laser
Regular eye examinations are recommended to detect glaucoma for those undiagnosed and to monitor glaucoma in those who have been diagnosed.