Glaucoma Center - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Eye Doctor Doctors for GlaucomaType of Physician: Eye Doctor What is a Eye Doctor? A certification by the Board of Ophthalmology; practitioners provide comprehensive eye and vision care. They are trained to diagnose, monitor and medically or surgically treat all eyelid and orbital problems affecting the eye and visual pathways, and to diagnose, monitor and treat all eye and visual disorders. They often prescribe vision services (glasses and contact lenses) as well as serve as a consultant to physicians and other professionals. Specialty: Ophthalmology Common Name: Eye Doctor Eye Doctor Doctors in Alexandria * Jacob Clark MD  Drs Huberman & Pollack  Drs Huberman & Pollack  Eye Plastic Associates PC  Advanced Eye Care  Advanced Eye Care  Advanced Eye Care  Eye Center of Northern VA  Eye Center of Northern VA  Eye Center of Northern VA  Sina J Sabet MD  Preston C Calvert MD  Insight Vision Center  Amy Kotecha MD  Insight Vision Center  Bijan Youssefi MD  Falls Church Medical Center  Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates  The Arlington Eye Center Inc  The Arlington Eye Center Inc  Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates  Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates  Retina Centers of Washington  Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates  Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates  Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates  See Clearly Vision of Arlington  Jorge Campana MD  Joseph F Territo MD  Potomac Eye Center  Robert Kling MD  John R Karickhoff MD  Eye Consultants of Northern Virginia PC  Eye Consultants of Northern Virginia PC  Eye Consultants of Northern Virginia PC  Eye Consultants of Northern Virginia PC  Metropolitan Ophthalmology Associates  Eye Physicians of Virginia  Retina Consultants PC  Retina Consultants PC  Retina Consultants PC  Retina Consultants PC  Eye Physicians of Virginia  Silk Vision and Surgical Center  Retina Consultants PC  Metropolitan Ophthalmology Associates  Joseph J Timmes Jr. MD  Childrens National Medical Center Ophthalmology  Roger A Snyder MD  Capital Eye Consultants  Northern Virginia Center For Eye Care  Juliana Y Park MD PC  The Retina Group Of Washington  The Retina Group Of Washington  The Retina Group Of Washington  Leonard Barmak MD  The Eye Institute Inc  Eye Associates of Washington  Eye Associates of Washington  David Chow MD  Eye Associates of Washington  Mitchell Eye Institute  Mitchell Eye Institute  Daniel H Framm & Lisa F Sklar MDs  Daniel H Framm & Lisa F Sklar MDs  Fairfax Eye Associates  Fairfax Eye Associates  David R Notes MD  Aaron Figler MD  Babur B Lateef MD  Dressler Ophthalmology Assoc  Dressler Ophthalmology Assoc  Potomac Retina LLC  Maureen T O'Dea MD  Timothy J Malone MD  New Vew Eye Center  New Vew Eye Center  Heidi Lisker MD  Elle Milani MD  Ophthalmic Plastic Consultants  Joanne Crenshaw MD  Joanne Crenshaw MD  Sedgewick Eye Associates  Andy Hay MD  Virginia Eye Care Center  Virginia Eye Care Center  Alan Egge MD  Virginia Eye Center  Virginia Eye Center  Virginia Eye Center  Flinton Callahan II MD  Virginia Retina Center  Access Eye Center  Access Eye Center  Retina Institute of Virginia  Retina Institute of Virginia  Retina Institute of Virginia  Retina Institute of Virginia  Jeffrey J Zuravleff MD PC  Lee R Brock MD Alexandria, VirginiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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GlaucomaWhat is glaucoma?Glaucoma is a disease of the major nerve of vision, called the optic nerve. The optic nerve receives light-generated nerve impulses from the retina and transmits these to the brain, where we recognize those electrical signals as vision. Glaucoma is characterized by a particular pattern of progressive damage to the optic nerve that generally begins with a subtle loss of side vision (peripheral vision). If glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it can progress to loss of central vision and blindness. Glaucoma is usually, but not always, associated with elevated pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure). Generally, it is this elevated eye pressure that leads to damage of the eye (optic) nerve. In some cases, glaucoma may occur in the presence of normal eye pressure. This form of glaucoma is believed to be caused by poor regulation of blood flow to the optic nerve.
How common is glaucoma?Worldwide, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. In fact, as many as 6 million individuals are blind in both eyes from this disease. In the United States alone, according to one estimate, over 3 million people have glaucoma. As many as half of the individuals with glaucoma, however, may not know that they have the disease. The reason they are unaware is that glaucoma initially causes no symptoms, and the subsequent loss of side vision (peripheral vision) is usually not recognized.
What causes glaucoma?Elevated pressure in the eye is the main factor leading to glaucomatous damage to the eye (optic) nerve. Glaucoma with normal intraocular pressure is discussed below in the section on the different types of glaucoma. The optic nerve, which is located in back of the eye, is the main visual nerve for the eye. This nerve transmits the images we see back to the brain for interpretation. The eye is firm and round, like a basketball. Its tone and shape are ... Recommended Reading Related to GlaucomaDisease prevention in women overviewScreening tests are a basic part of prevention medicine. All screening tests are commonly available through your general doctor. Some specialized tests may be available elsewhere. Take an active role and discuss screening tests with your doctor early in life. The following charts are beneficial (generally simple and safe) screening tests that can help detect diseases and conditions before they become harmful. OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a condition with progressive loss of bone density leading to bone fractures. Estrogen is important in maintaining bone density. When estrogen levels drop after menopause, bone loss accelerates. Thus osteoporosis is most common among postmenopausal women. Screening testsMeasurement of bone density using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan DEXA bone density scanning can:
Other Related Glaucoma ArticlesEmergency Contact for Alexandria
Nearby Alexandria Hospitals *The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Inova Alexandria Hospital Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Fort Washington Hospital The Specialty Hospital of Washington The George Washington University Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Dominion Hospital Georgetown University Hospital Howard University Hospital United Medical Center Children's National Medical Center National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington DC VA Medical Center Washington Hospital Center Sibley Memorial Hospital Southern Maryland Hospital Center Psychiatric Institute of Washington The HSC Pediatric Center Providence Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington Adventist Hospital National Institutes of Health Holy Cross Hospital Suburban Hospital Doctors Community Hospital Potomac Hospital Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Civista Medical Center Reston Hospital Center Laurel Regional Hospital Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Prince William Hospital Montgomery General Hospital Calvert Memorial Hospital Howard County General Hospital Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Anne Arundel Medical Center Baltimore Washington Medical Center Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Glaucoma by Our Doctors
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