Glaucoma Doctors in Austin
Protect Your Vision from the Sneak Thief of Sight
Guard Your Vision from Glaucoma
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness globally, often called the "sneak thief of sight" because it can become severe without noticeable symptoms. With early diagnosis and the right care from your eye doctor, however, it's possible to detect and manage glaucoma before it causes lasting damage.
At Bristol Family Eyecare, our doctors have extensive experience and access to advanced technology that helps us catch even the earliest signs of glaucoma, allowing us to protect your vision with a personalized treatment plan.
What is Glaucoma?
The Second Leading Cause of Blindness Globally
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that cause pressure within your eye, or intraocular pressure (IOP), to build. This puts stress on your optic nerve that can distort your eyesight and cause irreversible vision loss.
Common Symptoms of Glaucoma:
- Blurry vision
- Visual distortion, including waves and halos around light sources
- Severe headaches or eye pain, sometimes leading to nausea
- Sudden vision loss or dramatic changes in vision quality
This tendency of glaucoma to seemingly come from nowhere is why annual eye exams are important. Your eye doctor can monitor things such as fluctuations or rises in intraocular pressure to know if there's cause for concern.
Types of Glaucoma
There are several types of glaucoma, but two are more common than others:
Open Angle Glaucoma
This accounts for nearly 90% of glaucoma cases. In open angle glaucoma, the eye's drainage paths gradually become clogged and cause IOP to slowly rise over time.
Angle Closure Glaucoma
While less common, angle closure occurs when the drainage openings become suddenly blocked and cause rapid vision loss. It requires immediate emergency medical attention.
Any vision loss you suffer from glaucoma, regardless of type, is permanent because the optic nerve doesn't have the ability to recover from damage. Getting regular eye exams enables us to recognize early warning signs or risk factors and prevent glaucoma from progressing to this point.
Glaucoma Risk Factors
There isn't a singular cause of glaucoma, but there are a number of factors that can help identify if someone is more likely to be at risk for glaucoma, including:
- Being over 40 years old
- Being African American, Hispanic, or Asian
- Being menopausal or pregnant
- Being a tobacco smoker
- Having high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease
- Having other conditions affecting the eye, such as cataracts or uveitis
- Having a family history of glaucoma
- Having elevated intraocular pressure (IOP)
How We Treat & Manage Glaucoma
When glaucoma is caught early, the progression (and the resulting vision loss) can be slowed and even stopped. There are a number of treatments we provide that help manage glaucoma and protect your vision, many of which work well together.
Glaucoma Specialists at Bristol Family Eyecare
Glaucoma can be a scary condition, but you'll be in the care of Austin's finest eye doctors when you come to Bristol Family Eyecare. We provide expert glaucoma management using the state-of-the-art technology to find early warning signs of glaucoma and help you halt it, while giving you the kind and considered attention you deserve. It's all part of our mission to enrich your life through eye care.
Our doctors learn about your needs as an individual and tailor all their care to you. To learn more about our glaucoma management, schedule an appointment with Bristol Family Eyecare today!
Why Families in Austin Trust Us
Proudly Serving Bee Cave, Georgetown & Lakeway - 620
Discover why families in the Austin area choose Bristol Family Eyecare for all their vision needs.