Patient information
What is it?
Glaucoma is progressive damage to the optic nerve, usually linked to elevated eye pressure. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and advances without pain or symptoms: by the time you notice vision loss, the damage is already permanent. That is why early detection is everything.
Symptoms & warning signs
- In early stages: none — which is exactly what makes it dangerous
- Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision
- Tunnel vision in advanced stages
- Halos around lights
- In acute attacks: intense eye pain, red eye and nausea (an emergency)
How is it diagnosed?
The exam includes eye-pressure measurement (tonometry), evaluation of the optic nerve with dilated pupils, and visual-field testing. A yearly check from age 40 — or earlier if glaucoma runs in your family — lets us catch it while it is still controllable.
When is treatment recommended?
Treatment begins as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed, or when elevated pressure is found together with risk factors. The goal is to lower eye pressure and stop the damage: vision already lost to glaucoma cannot be recovered, but the vision you still have can be protected for life.
What is the procedure like?
Depending on each case, control is achieved with pressure-lowering drops, laser treatment or surgery. Dr. Flores designs a personalized plan and provides regular follow-up with pressure and visual-field measurements to adjust treatment in time.
- Detection before any vision is lost
- Ongoing monitoring of visual field and eye pressure
- Medical, laser or surgical treatment to suit your case
- Comprehensive, lifelong follow-up
Recovery
Glaucoma is a chronic disease that is controlled, much like high blood pressure. With treatment adherence and timely check-ups, the vast majority of patients keep useful vision for the rest of their lives.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cure for glaucoma?
There is no cure, but it can be controlled. Caught early, treatment halts or slows the damage to the optic nerve and preserves vision. What is already lost cannot be recovered, which is why early diagnosis is the priority.
Who is at higher risk of glaucoma?
People over 40, anyone with a close relative who has glaucoma, patients with diabetes or high myopia, and long-term corticosteroid users. In these cases a yearly exam is essential.
How do I know if my eye pressure is high?
You cannot feel it. The only way to know is to have it measured at an eye exam with tonometry — a quick, painless test that is part of the comprehensive evaluation.
The information on this page is educational and does not replace a medical consultation. Each case is evaluated individually by Dra. Fabiola Esther Flores Arredondo.