Glaucoma Center - Smyrna, TN
Smyrna 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 Smyrna * Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Ophthamology  Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Ophthamology  McCabe Vision Center  Ophthalmology Associates  Stones River Eye Center  Stones River Eye Center  Harold T Akin MD  Nashville Eye Associates  Nashville Eye Associates  Summit Eye Associates PC  Summit Eye Associates PC  Summit Eye Associates PC  Yeshawant B Paranjape MD  Nashville Vision Associates  Nashville Vision Associates  Nashville Vision Associates  The Eye Center  The Eye Center  The Eye Center  Vanderbilt Eye Institute Williamson County  Vanderbilt Eye Institute Williamson County  Vanderbilt Eye Institute Williamson County  Vanderbilt Eye Institute  Vanderbilt Eye Institute  Vanderbilt Eye Institute  Vanderbilt Eye Institute  Vanderbilt Eye Institute  Vanderbilt Eye Institute  Vanderbilt Eye Institute  Ming X Wang MD  Drs Burkhalter & Henderson  Drs Burkhalter & Henderson  Joe M Chisolm MD  Stephen E Grinde MD  Ronald E McFarland MD & Everton L Arrindell MD  Stewart Shofner MD  Pilkinton Eye Center  Inez B Bounds MD  Karla J Johns MD  Heritage Medical Associates  Carolyn M Parrish MD  Arrowsmith Eye Institute  John B Bond III MD  Cornea Consultants of Nashville  Ophthalmology Associates  Cornea Consultants of Nashville  Ophthalmology Associates  Cornea Consultants of Nashville  Tennessee Retina  Brian S Biesman MD  Tennessee Retina  Tennessee Retina  Tennessee Retina Consultants  Tennessee Retina  Tennessee Retina Consultants  David L Newsom MD  L Edwin Rice Jr. MD  L Edwin Rice Jr. MD  Cumberland Eye Clinic  Centennial Heart at Skyline  Rynerson Vision Care  Cumberland Eye Clinic  Loden Vision Centers  Drs Cheij Cheij & Skelo  Drs Cheij Cheij & Skelo  Guardian Eye Associates PLC  Guardian Eye Associates PLC  Howard H Rosenblum MD  Deborah D Sherman MD  Drs Cheij Cheij & Skelo  Guardian Eye Associates PLC  Loden Vision Centers  Green Eye Center  Green Eye Center  Eye Care Center  Eye Care Center  Charles D Atnip MD  Gordon Hamilton & King MDs  Gordon Hamilton & King MDs  Mahan & Ridley Eye Associates  Mahan & Ridley Eye Associates  McMinnville Eyecare  McClure Eye Center  Premier Medical Group Ob/Gyn  Clarksville Ophthalmology PC  Clarksville Ophthalmology PC  Clarksville Ophthalmology PC  James Grisolano Jr. MD  Upper Cumberland Regional Eye Center  Middle Tennessee Eye Associates  Cookeville Eye Specialist  Florence Ophthalmology PC Smyrna, TennesseeUpcoming 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 Smyrna
Nearby Smyrna Hospitals *StoneCrest Medical Center Alvin C York Veterans Affairs Medical Center Middle Tennessee Medical Center Southern Hills Medical Center Summit Medical Center Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute Williamson Medical Center Nashville Rehabilitation Hospital University Medical Center Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital Psychiatric Hospital At Vanderbilt Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville VA Medical Center Baptist Hospital McFarland Specialty Hospital Centennial Medical Center Parthenon Pavilion Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital Saint Thomas Hospital Skyline Madison Campus Skyline Medical Center Bordeaux Long Term Care Kindred Hospital Nashville Hendersonville Medical Center Stones River Hospital Heritage Medical Center Sumner Regional Medical Center Trousdale Medical Center 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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