Glaucoma Center - Bethesda, MD
Bethesda 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 Bethesda * Bethesda Neurology LLC  Charles F Bahn MD  Robert B Kaufman MD  Mitchell Eye Institute  Mitchell Eye Institute  George A Patterson MD  National Retina Institute  Metropolitan Ophthalmology Associates  Metropolitan Ophthalmology Associates  Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Rosalie L Bair MD  Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Brooks G Brown III MD  The Retina Group Of Washington  Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Drs Blackburn Hamill & Mackin  Harry H Huang MD  Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons  The Retina Group Of Washington  Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons  The Retina Group Of Washington  Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Eye Doctors of Washington  Eye Doctors of Washington  Eye Doctors of Washington  Eye Doctors of Washington  Eye Doctors of Washington  Eye Doctors of Washington  Visionary Opthalmalogy  Champlain Opthalmologists  The Eye Center Inc  Champlain Opthalmologists  Visionary Opthalmalogy  Visionary Opthalmalogy  Retina Consultants PC  Retina Consultants PC  Retina Consultants PC  Retina Consultants PC  David F Plotsky MD PC  Retina Consultants PC  Bethesda Retina LLC  Gerald Rogell MD  Hammerman Wanicur & Kane MDs  Hammerman Wanicur & Kane MDs  Hammerman Wanicur & Kane MDs  Hammerman Wanicur & Kane MDs  Jerome B Gabry MD  Narieman Nik MD  John F Anderschat MD  Maryland Eye Consultants & Surgeons  Maryland Eye Consultants & Surgeons  Maryland Eye Consultants & Surgeons  Maryland Eye Consultants & Surgeons  Milne Eye Medical Center  Maryland Eye Consultants & Surgeons  Robert H Chu MD PA  Natasha Herz & Stephen P Ginsberg MDs  Natasha Herz & Stephen P Ginsberg MDs  Drs Rodman Engelstein & Gutmark MD  Drs Rodman Engelstein & Gutmark MD  Drs Jonathan S Lyons & Thomas Yau MD  Drs Rodman Engelstein & Gutmark MD  Joseph Snyder MD  Drs Jonathan S Lyons & Thomas Yau MD  Michael D Baum MD  Robert A Ralph MD  James A Loreto MD  Rockville Eye Associates  Lawrence Frank MD  Lawrence Frank MD  Rockville Eye Associates  Marshall P Keys MD  Rockville Eye Associates  Bradley Eye Associates Inc  The Retina Group Of Washington  The Retina Group Of Washington  The Retina Group Of Washington  The Retina Group Of Washington  The Retina Group Of Washington  The Retina Group Of Washington  The Retina Group Of Washington  Stuart H Lessans MD  Stuart H Lessans MD  Marcia L Hutcheon MD  The Eye Center Inc  Retina Centers of Washington  The Eye Center Inc  Glaser & Luck MDs  Glaser & Luck MDs  Shady Grove Ophthalmology  Edward A Tsoy MD  Herbert B Gould MD  Banyong Chakshuvej MD  George Malouf MD  Potomac Eye Surgeons  Potomac Eye Surgeons  Medical Eye Center PA  Medical Eye Center PA Bethesda, MarylandUpcoming 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 Bethesda
Nearby Bethesda Hospitals *National Institutes of Health Suburban Hospital Psychiatric Institute of Washington Sibley Memorial Hospital Holy Cross Hospital Walter Reed Army Medical Center Georgetown University Hospital Washington Adventist Hospital National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington Hospital Center Washington DC VA Medical Center Children's National Medical Center Howard University Hospital The George Washington University Hospital Providence Hospital The HSC Pediatric Center Virginia Hospital Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington Dominion Hospital Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Inova Alexandria Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Montgomery General Hospital United Medical Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Doctors Community Hospital Laurel Regional Hospital Reston Hospital Center Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Fort Washington Hospital Howard County General Hospital Southern Maryland Hospital Center Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City Prince William Hospital Potomac Hospital North Spring Behavioral Healthcare Baltimore Washington Medical Center Graydon Manor Behavioral Health Spring Grove Hospital Center Springfield Hospital Center Anne Arundel Medical Center Saint Agnes Hospital Kernan Hospital Northwest Hospital Harbor Hospital Center Bon Secours Baltimore Health System Civista Medical Center University of Maryland Medical Center Baltimore VA Medical Center University Specialty Hospital Maryland General Hospital Mercy Medical Center Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center & Hospital Kennedy Krieger Institute Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Frederick Memorial Hospital Johns Hopkins Hospital 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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