How to Find Out if You Have Glaucoma

Here at Arena Eye Care Optometry in Sacramento, we take great care in ensuring our patients have a comfortable experience. We know that it's not always easy coming to the eye doctor, but it is necessary. As part of your regular eye exam, Dr. Krister L. Holmberg or Dr. Shephali Patel will thoroughly evaluate the health of your eyes. One conditions we pay close attention to is glaucoma. This is an eye disease that can cause blindness if not treated. If you've heard this word floating around before, here's what you need to know.

Family History

If other members of your family have had glaucoma, you are at a higher risk for developing it as well. Before you come in for your regular eye exam, ask your parents, siblings, and other relatives if they or anyone in the family has suffered from this or other eye conditions. This will give us a heads up to know that you may be at greater risk.

Routine Eye Exam

Making time for regular eye exams is the best way to stay on top of your eye health. If you are an adult under 40 with perfect vision, every 2 years might be enough. If you are over 40 or have other vision problems, you should come in annually. Although high eye pressure is the biggest risk for glaucoma, there are many others, too. Interestingly most people who have glaucoma do not have any symptoms. With that in mind, periodic routine evaluations greatly reduce the chance that glaucoma worsens without you knowing it.

Glaucoma Treatment

During the exam, if it's determined that you might have or are at risk for developing glaucoma, we will get you setup for additional testing. The results of those tests then detrmine if you have the disease, and help us decide the best course of action. Depending on the severity of your condition, it may be treated with medication such as eye drops or pills. For more severe cases, we may recommend surgery.

Don't Wait!

We encourage everyone to have routine eye exams as directed by their doctor. Contact us at Arena Eye Care Optometry in Sacramento by calling (916) 419-8167 to make an appointment. We can check for glaucoma as well as a variety of other eye conditions.