Our senses are the key to the ways in which we engage with the world. When one begins to fade, it changes everything, including how others treat us. We begin to be seen as our condition, not the person behind it. Glaucoma, called the “sneak thief of sight,” is one such disorder projected to affect over 4 million people by 2030. Without raising awareness of how important eye exams are to preserving vision, the numbers will only continue rising. At AmeriBest Homecare in Philadelphia, we get calls from families who do not know how to handle this issue on top of any other health limitations their loved one has. They worry about the quality of life and effective care going forward. After all, Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, especially for Latinos and African Americans. The numbers will only continue rising without raising awareness of how important eye exams are to preserving vision.
Glaucoma up Close
Glaucoma can affect people from all walks of life and of all ages. Nonetheless, it primarily affects people when they hit middle age and upward. Everything begins in the optic nerve, which is responsible for sending thousands of images to the brain for processing. When there is damage to the nerve, the clarity decreases and begins fading. When an eye doctor detects glaucoma in its early stages, it improves their ability to treat the issue.
Two Main Types of Glaucoma
Primary open-angle glaucoma is one of the two primary forms of the disorder. It results from increased pressure inside the eye. Secondary glaucoma occurs because of an underlying disease, causing, or contributing to, eye pressure.
Prevention
The problem with glaucoma is that most people don’t even know it’s developing because it begins in peripheral vision. There are no early warning signs. The only way to check for glaucoma is through an eye exam in which the eye is dilated. When discovered early enough, some eyesight can be protected. Note that if your family has a history of glaucoma, it’s doubly important to have regular exams as there appear to be genetic correlations.
Tests for glaucoma look at five factors. First, the eye doctor examines the pressure inside the eye. Next, they look at the shape and color of the optic nerve, followed by checking your field of vision. The last two things are examining the angle where the iris meets the cornea and the thickness of the cornea.
Accessing Homecare in Philadelphia
If your loved one has a glaucoma diagnosis, you may need help with their daily care, especially as the vision fades. Our trained staff is ready to show compassion and kindness, particularly since the individual probably feels vulnerable. Give us a call to learn how we can make things at home run with less stress while also providing experienced care you can trust.
There are many good home care agencies in Philadelphia, but if you’re looking for a GREAT one, contact AmeriBest!
You can contact our office in three ways:
Our online Contact Form
By phone 215-925-3313
Or by email: info@ameribest.org
