One of the leading providers of its type in the New England area, Lexington Eye Associates offers ophthalmology and optometry services in the greater Boston area. One of the many conditions Lexington Eye Associates helps to treat is glaucoma, a group of eye disorders which affect the optic nerve.
The most common early symptom of glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye, though not all forms of glaucoma present with this condition. Many cases present with almost no early symptoms at all, so as many as half of those with glaucoma are likely unaware they have contracted the condition. Alongside macular degeneration and cataracts, it is one of the most common causes of blindness worldwide.
Open-angle glaucoma, the most common variety of the disease, affects those of African or Hispanic descent at significantly higher rates, and more members of these groups typically go blind as a result. Some recent studies have also indicated that those of Filipino descent are more likely to get the disease; additionally, when they contract it, they may also be more likely to have normal-tension glaucoma, which presents without the heightened intraocular pressure which can make some types of glaucoma easier to spot.
Glaucoma treatment can include surgical intervention, lasers, and medication. Those with glaucoma should contact their healthcare practitioners to chart an appropriate course of treatment.
