Glaucoma

Glaucoma services offered in Hartford, CT

While glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the United States, it can develop undetected for years before you notice the warning signs. Barbara Dune, OD, and the team at Serenity I Care in Hartford, Connecticut, are passionate about preventing, managing, and treating glaucoma. Call the optometry clinic today or schedule an appointment online for comprehensive glaucoma care.

Glaucoma Q&A

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that can damage the optic nerve, which sends visual information to the brain. It’s the leading cause of permanent blindness. What makes glaucoma difficult to treat is that it can develop for years without symptoms. You may not realize you have the condition until it permanently damages your vision.

There is no cure for glaucoma, so early intervention is essential to protect your vision and eye health. The experienced optometrists at Serenity I Care recommend visiting for comprehensive eye exams to diagnose glaucoma early and administer treatment quickly.

What are the signs of glaucoma?

The signs of glaucoma depend on the type you have. The most common type is open-angle glaucoma, which occurs when the eye’s filters can’t drain properly. Telltale signs of open-angle glaucoma include:

Blind spots in your peripheral (side) vision
Blurry vision
Difficulty seeing in your central vision
Blindness

The second most common type, closed-angle glaucoma, can develop more suddenly. Individuals with this type of glaucoma may experience sudden blurry vision, eye pain, headaches, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

What causes glaucoma?

Pressure in the eye is the most common cause of glaucoma. While this can develop at any time, glaucoma is most likely to occur in people over the age of 60. Other common risk factors for glaucoma include:

Having a family history of glaucoma
Having diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and other chronic conditions
Experiencing previous eye injuries

Another common risk factor for glaucoma is decreased corneal thickness. The cornea is the eye’s surface layer. When the cornea is abnormally thin, pressure can develop inside the eye.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

The optometry team at Serenity I Care performs multiple types of testing to diagnose glaucoma. Along with a comprehensive dilated eye exam, the team uses tonometry to measure the pressure inside the eyes. They may also use ophthalmoscopy to examine the retina, optic nerve, and other internal eye structures.