Glaucoma Center - Lakewood, WA
Lakewood 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 Lakewood * Leonard B Alenick MD  David R Benson MD  Jonathan C Bahmiller MD  Cheryl M Yokoyama MD  Eye MDs of Puget Sound  Pacific Northwest Eye Associates PS  Pacific Northwest Eye Associates PS  Walter M Rotkis MD  Pacific Northwest Eye Associates PS  Pacific Northwest Eye Associates PS  Pacific Northwest Eye Associates PS  Hsushi Yeh MD  St Marks Eye Institute  Peter B Shelley MD  Pacific Northwest Eye Associates  Cascade Eye & Skin Centers  Cascade Eye & Skin Centers  Cascade Eye & Skin Centers  Cascade Eye & Skin Centers  Cascade Eye & Skin Centers  Cascade Eye & Skin Centers  Cascade Eye & Skin Centers  Cascade Eye & Skin Centers  Cascade Eye & Skin Centers  Cascade Eye & Skin Centers  Virginia Mason Federal Way  Evergreen Eye Center  Sound Eye & Laser  West Seattle Eye Clinic  Island Vision  West Seattle Eye Clinic  Robert C Groth MD  Evergreen Eye Center  Eye Institute of Olympia Inc PC  West Seattle Eye Clinic  West Seattle Eye Clinic  West Seattle Eye Clinic  Northwest Eye Surgeons PC  Northwest Eye Surgeons PC  Valley Eye & Laser Center  Valley Eye & Laser Center  Valley Eye & Laser Center  Valley Eye & Laser Center  The Eye Center at Valley Medical Center  Meridian Eye Clinic  Valley Eye & Laser Center  Kitsap Eye Physicians  Kitsap Eye Physicians  Kitsap Eye Physicians  Eye Associates Northwest  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  UWMC Cosmetic Surgery Center  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Eye Clinic  Seattle Eye MDs  Sheldon J Cowen MD  Virginia Mason Seattle Main  Virginia Mason Seattle Main  Virginia Mason Seattle Main  Seattle Eye MDs  Virginia Mason Seattle Main  Pacific Medical Centers  Howard S Barnebey MD  Eye Associates Northwest  The Polyclinic Ophthalmology  Eye Associates Northwest  Eye Associates Northwest  Eye Associates Northwest  Pacific Medical Centers  Eye Associates Northwest  The Polyclinic Ophthalmology  Eye Associates Northwest  Eye Associates Northwest  Pacific Medical Centers  Eye Associates Northwest  Richard Bensinger MD  Vitreoretinal Associates  Seattle Ophthalmology PLLC  Glaucoma Consultants  Allure Laser Center & MediSpa  Kim S Mallick MD  Seattle Radiologists PC  Glaucoma Consultants  Vitreoretinal Associates  Vitreoretinal Associates  Allure Laser Center & MediSpa  Vitreoretinal Associates  Group Health Ophthalmology  Group Health Ophthalmology  Eye Clinic of Bellevue  Eye Clinic of Bellevue  Eye Clinic of Bellevue Lakewood, WashingtonUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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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 GlaucomaWhat is LASIK?LASIK stands for laser in situ keratomileusis, which means using a laser underneath a corneal flap (in situ) to reshape the cornea (keratomileusis). This procedure utilizes a highly specialized laser (excimer laser) designed to treat refractive errors, improve vision, and reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. This laser procedure alters the shape of the cornea, which is the transparent front covering of the eye. Though the excimer laser had been used for many years before, the development of LASIK is generally credited to Ioannis Pallikaris from Greece around 1991.
How does LASIK work?During the LASIK procedure, a specially trained eye surgeon first creates a precise, thin hinged corneal flap using a microkeratome. The surgeon then pulls back the flap to expose the underlying corneal tissue, and then the excimer laser ablates (reshapes) the cornea in a unique pre-specified p... Other Related Glaucoma ArticlesEmergency Contact for Lakewood
Nearby Lakewood Hospitals *Saint Clare Hospital Allenmore Hospital Pierce County Human Services St Joseph Medical Center Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center Tacoma General Hospital Good Samaritan Hospital & Community Healthcare St Francis Hospital Auburn Regional Medical Center Providence St Peter Hospital Highline Medical Center Main Campus Capital Medical Center Valley Medical Center Schick Shadel Hospital Highline Medical Center Specialty Campus The Regional Hospital for Respiratory & Complex Care Enumclaw Regional Hospital West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital VA Puget Sound Health Care System Harrison Medical Center Mason General Hospital Harborview Medical Center Swedish Medical Center Cherry Hill Campus Swedish Medical Center First Hill Campus Virginia Mason Medical Center Group Health Central Hospital Seattle Cancer Care Alliance University of Washington Medical Center Overlake Hospital Medical Center Swedish Medical Center Ballard Campus 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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