Could I go Blind if My Glaucoma Does Not Get Treated?

Glaucoma strikes silently because it does not produce any noticeable symptoms. At least not until it has advanced enough to cause damage to the eye. And since this can result in irreversible vision loss, it’s imperative to stay up to date with your eye care. One of the best ways to do that is to schedule routine eye exams.

Good vision and eye health affect every part of one’s life, and you can hold onto them as long as possible with our innovative, effective eye care strategies. To explore your options and guard your eyesight, contact us and schedule an appointment with Dr. Daxx Dunn at Family Vision Care.

How does glaucoma affect my eyesight?

Glaucoma isn’t a single condition but an umbrella term that encompasses multiple disorders that cause the optic nerve to deteriorate. To produce proper vision, your eye guides incoming light through a number of tissues. These include the outermost protective layer, the cornea, and then the lens before incoming light reaches the ocular structure that’s full of photoreceptive cells: the retina at the back of the eye.

Incoming light is converted to electrical signals that travel up the optic nerve and to the brain. As may be obvious, any damage incurred by the optic nerve disrupts the flow of electric and visual information that must reach the brain to yield a clear view of the world.

Can I go blind if my glaucoma does not get treated?

Glaucoma, in its various forms, attacks the optic nerve. It damages this crucial part of the eye through increased pressure because fluid cannot drain from the eye. As the pressure rises, the delicate tissues of the eye deteriorate and lose their visual capabilities.

These issues may progress imperceptibly, which is why glaucoma is commonly known as “the silent thief of sight.” In its earlier stages, it causes no apparent symptoms, and its damaging effects may only become evident once a patient has already lost a portion of their sight.

So, the sad reality is that glaucoma can lead to blindness if left untreated. In fact, glaucoma is one of the world’s leading causes of blindness. Unfortunately, glaucoma is incurable. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have to suffer from poor visual acuity and lose your eyesight because we offer a variety of effective solutions to treat and manage the various causes of glaucoma.

Protect yourself from glaucoma by contacting us today

Due to its inherent sneakiness, and its potential for loss of vision via optic nerve damage, glaucoma poses a silent threat to the visual capabilities of millions of individuals. And since many of these people do not even know they’re afflicted, it’s vital for preventive and diagnostic purposes that individuals (especially those over 40 years of age) seek routine eye exams.

Early detection and diagnosis will allow Dr. Dunn to devise the most effective treatment plan possible for you to yield the most efficient management strategies.  Contact us at Family Vision Care to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Dunn, Dr. Weldon, or Dr. Short.