Glaucoma Center - Waltham, MA
Waltham 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 Waltham * Children's Hospital Boston Ophthalmology  Dornfeld Eye Center  Children's Hospital Boston Ophthalmology  Putnoi Putnoi & Richler MDs  Putnoi Putnoi & Richler MDs  Putnoi Putnoi & Richler MDs  Children's Hospital Boston Ophthalmology  Children's Hospital Boston Ophthalmology  Ophthalmic Consultants Of Boston  Ophthalmic Consultants Of Boston  Ophthalmic Consultants Of Boston  Ophthalmic Consultants Of Boston  Talamo Laser Eye Consultants  Newton-Wellesley Eye Associates  Miriam Dougherty MD  Eye Care and Laser Surgery  Newton-Wellesley Eye Associates  Eye Care and Laser Surgery  Newton-Wellesley Eye Associates  Daher Vision  Kornmehl Laser Eye Associates  New England Eye Center  Ernst Meyer MD  Lexington Eye Associates  Lexington Eye Associates  Lexington Eye Associates  Lexington Eye Associates  Lexington Eye Associates  Lexington Eye Associates  Lexington Eye Associates  Lexington Eye Associates  Lexington Eye Associates  Larry Roth MD  Lexington Eye Associates  Lexington Eye Associates  Lexington Eye Associates  Charles A Barsam MD  Paul Barsam MD  Stephen Youngwirth MD  Boston Eye Associates  Eye Associates of Needham PC  Eye Associates of Needham PC  James W Rosenberg MD  Boston Eye Associates  Eye Associates PC  Eye Associates PC  Eye Associates PC  Irving Weissman MD  Eye Associates PC  Deanna P Ricker MD  New England Eye Center  Kenneth Stampfer MD  Lahey Clinic Medical Center Ophthalmology  Lahey Clinic Medical Center Ophthalmology  Lahey Clinic Medical Center Ophthalmology  Lahey Clinic Medical Center Ophthalmology  Retina Specialists of Boston Inc  Retina Specialists of Boston Inc  Retina Specialists of Boston Inc  Lahey Clinic Medical Center Ophthalmology  Lahey Clinic Medical Center Ophthalmology  Dedham Medical Associates  Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Somerville  Lahey Clinic Medical Center Ophthalmology  Dedham Medical Associates  Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Somerville  James Lee MD  Jeffrey L Taveras MD  Saragas Eye Center & Laser Center  American Vision Association  North Suburban Eye Associates  North Suburban Eye Associates  North Suburban Eye Associates  Cornea Consultants  Eye MDs Of Greater Boston PC  Eye MDs Of Greater Boston PC  Boston Eye Group  Boston Eye Group  Ophthalmic Consultants Of Boston  Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Edward F Goodman MD  Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Caroline Marten-Ellis MD  Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Cambridge Health Alliance Eye Center  Cambridge Health Alliance Eye Center  Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Jason N Gilbert MD  Eye Associates PC  Eye Associates PC  Eye Associates PC  Medical Eye Care Associates PC  Michael Olstein MD  Medical Eye Care Associates PC  Beth Israel Deaconess Ophthalmology Waltham, MassachusettsUpcoming 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 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 Waltham
Nearby Waltham Hospitals *McLean Hospital Newton Wellesley Hospital Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Franciscan Hospital for Children Kindred Hospital Boston Mount Auburn Hospital Arbour HRI Hospital Somerville Hospital Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Cambridge Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital Bournewood Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Brigham & Women's Hospital Dana Farber Cancer Institute Children's Hospital Boston Lawrence Memorial Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus New England Baptist Hospital Arbour Hospital Faulkner Hospital Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Lahey Clinic Medical Center VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus M I T Medical Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital Radius Specialty Hospital Boston Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Massachusetts General Hospital Winchester Hospital Emerson Hospital Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston Medical Center Massachusetts Mental Health Center Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Tufts New England Medical Center Whidden Memorial Hospital Melrose Wakefield Hospital Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital Caritas Carney Hospital MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital Westwood Lodge Hospital Milton Hospital Caritas Norwood Hospital Quincy Medical Center Massachusetts Hospital School North Shore Medical Center Tewksbury Hospital UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree Saints Medical Center Salem Hospital & the Birthplace North Shore Children's Hospital HC Solomon Mental Health Center Lowell General Hospital Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital Isham Health Center Westborough State Hospital South Shore Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center Nashoba Valley Medical Center Beverly Hospital Milford Regional Medical Center Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton Lawrence General Hospital Signature Healthcare Brockton 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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Disease Prevention in Men
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