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Will I Know if I Have Glaucoma?

Have you recently found out you have glaucoma? Even if you’ve received a diagnosis, you may not have noticed any symptoms of glaucoma.

About 50 percent of people with glaucoma are unaware they have it because any symptoms are not apparent until the condition progresses. For this reason, it’s essential to know your risk of developing glaucoma.

Since glaucoma doesn’t have any signs in the initial stages, regular eye exams are the only way to diagnose it. Early detection and treatment of glaucoma are vital in saving your sight. Keep reading to learn more about glaucoma!

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss. Because the optic nerve can’t regenerate, any vision loss is permanent and irreversible.

If left undiagnosed and untreated, glaucoma leads to permanent and total blindness. Although there’s no cure for glaucoma, prompt treatment can help slow or even stop the progression of the eye condition.

Causes of Glaucoma

Your eye is filled with fluid known as aqueous humor. You constantly produce aqueous humor. It drains back into your bloodstream regularly to maintain normal intraocular pressure.

When there’s a blockage in the eye that prevents proper fluid drainage, pressure builds up, resulting in glaucoma. Some people still develop glaucoma even with normal eye pressure.

Risk Factors

You’re more likely to develop glaucoma due to the following:

  • Elevated eye pressure
  • Being sixty or older
  • Severe eye injury
  • Having a family history of glaucoma
  • Having a cornea that’s thin at the center
  • Extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness
  • Being of Asian, African American, or Hispanic descent
  • Long-term use of corticosteroid medications
  • Certain medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia, and heart disease

Signs of Glaucoma

The symptoms of glaucoma will vary based on its stage and type. If you have any of the following symptoms, it’s primarily during the later stages of the condition. It’s essential to see your ophthalmologist right away to prevent further vision loss:

Halos and Glare

As glaucoma progresses, you may see glare and halos around light sources, especially at night. Halos and glare can appear as circles of light, a rainbow of colors, flashes, or streaks.

Loss of Peripheral Vision

Advanced glaucoma causes loss of side or peripheral vision. Many people don’t immediately realize there’s a decline in their peripheral vision because their central vision remains intact.

Without treatment, damage to the optic nerve will continue and eventually affect the central vision.

Head and Eye Pain

If you have frequent eye pain accompanied by regular headaches and eye redness, you may have glaucoma. The head and eye pain can be severe and triggers nausea or vomiting for some people.

Blurry Vision

It’s more common for your vision to deteriorate gradually due to glaucoma. You may notice that your vision has become blurry.

When you have blurry or hazy vision, it will feel as though you’re trying to look through a foggy window. Other things like cataracts can cause blurry vision, making it important to see an eye doctor if your vision seems off.

Vision Loss

Abrupt loss of vision could also be an indication of glaucoma.

Don’t Let Glaucoma Take Your Sight Away

Glaucoma can be a scary eye condition. Scheduling regular eye exams are your best defense.

Seeing your eye doctor at Morganton Eye makes it easier to detect and treat glaucoma early, ensuring you hold onto your sight. Schedule an appointment at Morganton Eye to learn more about glaucoma and keep your eyes healthy!

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Our Locations

The Marion Eye Clinic

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Location:

40 E. Medical Court
Marion, NC 28752
Phone: (828) 652-1000 • Fax: (828) 652-7170

After Hours Emergency Number:

(800) 222-3335
This is the after hours emergency number for Morganton Eye. Please follow the prompts to contact our doctor on call.

Morganton Eye Physicians, PA & Surgery Center

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am to 12:00 noon
Weekend hours are subject to change. Please call to confirm hours of operation.

Location:

335 East Parker Road
Morganton, NC 28655
Phone: (828) 433-1000 • Fax: (828) 433-6274

After Hours Emergency Number:

(800) 222-3335
This is the after hours emergency number for Morganton Eye. Please follow the prompts to contact our doctor on call.

The Forest City Eye Clinic

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Location:

640 Oak Street
Forest City, NC 28043
Phone: (828) 245-5550 • Fax: (828) 245-0551

After Hours Emergency Number:

(800) 222-3335
This is the after hours emergency number for Morganton Eye. Please follow the prompts to contact our doctor on call.

The Cleveland Eye Clinic & Eye Surgery Center

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Location:

1622 East Marion Street
Shelby, NC 28150
Phone: (704) 482-2020 • Fax: (704) 482-7707

After Hours Emergency Number:

(800) 222-3335
This is the after hours emergency number for Morganton Eye. Please follow the prompts to contact our doctor on call.

The Rutherford College Eye Clinic

OFFICE HOURS:

This location is temporarily closed.

Location:

831 Malcolm Boulevard
Rutherford College, NC 28671
Phone: (828) 874-1000 • Fax: (828) 874-4142

After Hours Emergency Number:

(800) 222-3335
This is the after hours emergency number for Morganton Eye. Please follow the prompts to contact our doctor on call.

Surgery Center of Morganton Eye Physicians

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 3:00 pm

Location:

335 E. Parker Rd
Morganton, NC 28655
Phone: (828) 433-1000 • Fax: (828) 433-9581

After Hours Emergency Number:

(800) 222-3335
This is the after hours emergency number for Morganton Eye. Please follow the prompts to contact our doctor on call.

Eye Surgery Center of Shelby

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 3:00 pm

Location:

1622 E Marion St
Shelby NC 28150
Phone: (704) 482-2020 • Fax: (704) 482-1420

After Hours Emergency Number:

(800) 222-3335
This is the after hours emergency number for Morganton Eye. Please follow the prompts to contact our doctor on call.