Could glaucoma be causing your vision changes?

There are many reasons why you may suddenly be dealing with blurry vision. You may just need a change in prescription, or you may be dealing with the early signs of glaucoma. A family history of glaucoma, as well as certain health problems and age are all factors that can increase your risk for glaucoma. That’s why it’s particularly important for people over the age of 60 to visit their Elmhurst, IL, eye doctor, Dr. Mark Skowron, if they notice these warning signs,

• Blurry vision

• Rainbows or halos around lights

• Loss of vision

• Eye pain

• Headaches
   

Symptoms will often occur suddenly and appear quickly, so it’s important to act fast and visit your eye doctor right away if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

Since most people rarely experience early warning signs of glaucoma, particularly those with open-angle glaucoma, it’s important that you visit our Elmhurst, IL, eye doctor every year for an eye exam. This condition is progressive and can lead to permanent blindness. This is why early detection and treatment is key to preserving your eyesight.
 

What is Glaucoma?

This progressive eye disease causes damage to the optic nerve, which causes a person to lose vision permanently. While there are several kinds of glaucoma the two most common types are primary open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma.
 

Risk Factors for Glaucoma

While our eye doctor will certainly screen anyone for glaucoma, it is particularly important for older adults to get regular glaucoma screenings when they come into the office for their annual exam. While anyone can develop glaucoma, there are certain risk factors. These risk factors include,

• Age: most people who develop glaucoma are over 60 years old

• Genetics: If you have a family member with glaucoma you are at a much greater risk for developing it yourself

• Trauma: If you’ve had eye injuries in the past this can also increase your risk for glaucoma

• Medical conditions: there are certain conditions such as nearsightedness, diabetes and hypertension that can also put you at a higher risk for glaucoma

• Race: You may be more likely to develop glaucoma if you are African American, Hispanic or Asian
   

Treating Glaucoma

While glaucoma cannot be cured there are ways for our team to help you slow the progression of the disease to prevent loss of vision. This includes,

• Coming in for regular eye exams

• Measuring the pressure in your eyes

• Taking certain medications or eye drops

• Stay healthy and active and adding exercise into your routine
   

When was the last time you visited our Elmhurst, IL, eye doctor for a checkup? If you are noticing changes in your vision, it’s a good idea to play it safe and schedule an appointment with us. CallSkowron Eye Care at (630) 834-6244.