Medically Reviewed by: Nicholas P. Bell, M.D.
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a serious condition that involves an elevation in pressure inside the eye caused by a build-up of excess fluid. Left untreated, it can destroy the optic nerve, which is the main nerve of the eye. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world today…but it doesn’t have to be.
In most cases, it is a painless disease…and there are no symptoms other than loss of vision, which can occur so gradually that many people do not realize it is happening. The first vision loss is usually peripheral vision (what you see off to the sides when you are looking straight ahead).
Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be treated. If it’s diagnosed
in its early stages, blindness can almost always be prevented. Because it is painless, it is very important that patients have regular eye exams. This is especially true for people who:
- Have a family history of the disease
- Are of African-American descent
- Over the age of 40
Possible Signs of Glaucoma:
If you are suddenly experiencing the following symptoms, you may have glaucoma and should seek immediate treatment:
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Halos around bright light
The Eye Center of Texas treats all types of glaucoma. The most common is called ‘open-angle’ glaucoma. It occurs in 80% of all people with glaucoma and most ‘open-angle’ cases are treated with eye drops that we prescribe in the office. We also offer laser trabeculoplasty or SLT. The SLT (which is covered by most insurance plans) treats intraocular pressure by gently opening up the drainage canal of the eye with multiple laser spots.
To schedule your glaucoma evaluation, call the Eye Center of Texas at 713-797-1010
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Our Locations
Houston/Bellaire
6565 W. Loop S., Suite 650Bellaire, TX 77401
Medical Office:
713-797-1010
Medical Fax:
713-357-7276
LASIK/Near Vision:
Office: 713-395-1515
Fax: 713-357-7278
Pasadena
4415 Crenshaw RoadPasadena, TX 77504
Medical Office:
281-977-8800
Medical Fax:
281-977-8877
Sugar Land
15200 S.W. Freeway, Suite 130Sugar Land, TX 77478
Medical Office:
281-277-1010
Medical Fax:
281-277-4504
Clear Lake
455 E. Medical Center Blvd., Suite 110Webster, TX 77598
Medical Office:
281-332-1397
Medical Fax:
281-282-9152
Katy
Greenhouse Medical Plaza2051 Greenhouse Road, Suite 110
Houston, TX 77084
Medical Office:
346-547-7070
Medical Fax:
281-214-2971
The Woodlands/Conroe
100 Medical Center Blvd., Suite 118Conroe, TX 77304
Medical Office:
936-647-1610
Medical Fax:
936-647-1620