Types of Glaucoma Leesburg, Eustis, Clermont

Affecting approximately 3 percent of the general population, glaucoma is a complex condition marked by damage to the optic nerve and the buildup of pressure inside the eye. Most people do not suspect high intraocular pressure until the condition has already begun robbing them of their sight. Since there are generally no symptoms associated with glaucoma, early diagnosis, proper treatment, and regular exams are essential to stopping the severe loss of vision.

Total Eye Care Center offers treatment for all types of glaucoma at our facilities in Leesburg, Eustis, and Clermont. While there are many types, each one is accompanied by the risk of damage to the optic nerve and loss of peripheral vision.

Main Types of Glaucoma

As our eye doctors will explain, the causes of glaucoma are relatively uncertain; we do know the condition may be primary (arising totally unexpectedly) or secondary (stemming from previous conditions or injury).

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease, affecting millions of Americans. This form of glaucoma is characterized by fluid buildup in between the cornea and iris, resulting in elevated intraocular pressure.

Closed-angle glaucoma is unusual and marked by a sharp, abrupt increase of intraocular pressure (it may result from pupil dilation). It occurs when part of the iris blocks fluid from draining and thus yields high pressure in the eye. This type of glaucoma is treated as a medical emergency and requires immediate surgery. It is also referred to as acute-angle-closure glaucoma.

Other Types of Glaucoma

The seasoned ophthalmologists at Total Eye Care Center can also diagnose the following types of glaucoma, however rare, at our Leesburg, Eustis, and Clermont offices:

Low-tension glaucoma is also known as normal-tension glaucoma. Its name is derived from the fact that it does not involve elevated intraocular pressure, although some degree of optic nerve damage will be present.

Congenital glaucoma appears at birth. Infants with this type of the disease are sensitive to light and have cloudy corneas. Surgery is a viable treatment option in most of these cases.

Extremely rare types of the condition also exist, such as pigment dispersion, pseudoexfoliation syndrome, irido corneal endothelial syndrome, and neavascular glaucoma.

Contact Us to Learn More about Types of Glaucoma

At Total Eye Care Center of Lake County, Florida, we offer our patients the full benefit of the advancements that have been made in the understanding and treatment of glaucoma. Contact our eye care center today to schedule an appointment or to discuss the different types of glaucoma. In Leesburg, Eustis, or Clermont, our staff can point your eye care in the optimal direction.