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Glaucoma - When To Call a Doctor
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Call
- Sudden, severe blurring of vision in one eye
- Severe pain in the affected eye
- Redness of the affected eye
- Nausea and vomiting
- Colored halos surrounding light sources
Call your doctor if you:
- Notice blind spots in your vision.
- Notice that over time you are having more difficulty seeing.
- Have a family history of open-angle glaucoma, are age 40 or older, and have not had an eye exam in more than a year. You may need to be examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist or optometrist) for signs of glaucoma.
- Have glaucoma and develop symptoms of side effects from the glaucoma medications that you are taking. See the Medications section of this topic.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you have symptoms of sudden (acute) closed-angle glaucoma. See the When to Call a Doctor section of this topic.
If your doctor detects that you have a slight increase in the pressure in your eyes (intraocular pressure, or IOP) and you have no other risk factors for glaucoma, your doctor may not treat it right away. But you will need to have the pressure in your eyes checked regularly, and you will need regular eye exams to make sure you are not developing glaucoma.
Who To See
The following doctors can diagnose glaucoma:
Decisions about treatment for glaucoma need to be made with the help of an ophthalmologist.
An optician cannot diagnose or treat glaucoma.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: May 5, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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