The Basics of Glaucoma: What It Is and How to Prevent

Glaucoma is a common condition around the world, a disorder that can start to wear down the quality of your vision over time. It is one of several conditions that affect the optic nerve. A B Vision Eyecare Centre in Kingston Jamaica is here to give you a basic overview, so you know more about what it is and what you can do about it. 

Fluid, Nerves, and Ophthalmology 

As with most parts of your body, general wear and tear will begin to influence how it functions throughout the day. Getting older may mean anything from stiffer joints to a loss of vision. If your optic nerve starts to break down, as is the case with glaucoma, you will eventually start to see blind spots in your field of vision. 

The breakdown is often related to pressure and fluids in your eye. Your eye depends on fluids to maintain proper health, but those fluids need to flow and drain properly for optimum performance. If they fail to drain, the pressure on the eye will increase and lead to nerve damage. 

Types of Glaucoma 

There are several types of glaucoma, some of which concern the drainage patterns in your eye. However, it is possible to develop glaucoma even if you do not have extra pressure in the eye. Each type of glaucoma has its own symptoms and effects. For instance, open-angle glaucoma often happens so gradually that people do not even realize it is happening, whereas angle-closure can come on immediately and require a trip to the emergency room. 

Who Gets Glaucoma 

Glaucoma is usually associated with people over the age of 40, but infants as young as a few months old can get it too. There is also a genetic component to it, so it helps to know if there is a family history of glaucoma. This condition is one of the most common reasons for adults over 60 to go blind, which is why it is so important to recognize the signs of it from early on. 

Better Ophthalmology in Kingston

There are still a lot of things that are unknown about glaucoma. For as common of a condition as it is, researchers are still perplexed at exactly how and why it manifests. However, there are certain things that you can do to help prevent glaucoma, which may mean anything from changing your diet to adjusting your medication to quitting smoking.

Regular eye exams can go a long way toward catching any trouble before you start to see serious deterioration. Call us at (876) 920-3600 to schedule to have your eyes checked today!