Glaucoma Center - Westfield, MA
Westfield 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 Westfield * Theodore J Krawiec MD  Eye & Lasik Center  Eye & Lasik Center  Springfield Eye Associates Inc  Springfield Eye Associates Inc  Springfield Eye Associates Inc  Springfield Eye Associates Inc  James S Rosenthal MD PC  Baystate Eye Care Group  Baystate Eye Care Group  Steven J Covici MD  Baystate Eye Care Group  Eyesight & Surgery Associates  Ronald J Gailun MD  Henderson Eye Center  Eyesight & Surgery Associates  Richard S Luftman MD  Ingis Eye Care  John A Thayer MD  Robert J Donohue MD  Robert J Donohue MD  Pioneer Valley Eye Associates  Alfred Hutt MD  Pioneer Valley Eye Associates  Robert J Donohue MD  Litscher Eye Center  Papale Eye Center  Papale Eye Center  Hampden Eye Physicians & Surgeons PC  Peter J Kelly MD PC  Balin Eye & Laser Center  Eye Physicians of Northampton  Eye Physicians of Northampton  Eye Physicians of Northampton  Norman A Spencer MD  Robert J Austin Jr. MD  Hugh Cooper MD  Southbridge Ophthalmic Assoc  Berkshire Eye Center  Berkshire Eye Center  Berkshire Eye Center  Berkshire Eye Center  The Center For Sight  Meltzer Eye Care Center  Gold Ophthalmologic Associates PC  Advanced Eye Care  D'Ambrosio Eye Care  D'Ambrosio Eye Care  D'Ambrosio Eye Care  Gardner Eye Associates  Amrik Pabley MD  Jeffrey D Levine MD  Eye Surgeons PC  Denis J Fitzgerald MD  Worcester Eye Consultants  Fallon Clinic Ophthalmology  Fallon Clinic Ophthalmology  Fallon Clinic Ophthalmology  Fallon Clinic Ophthalmology  Fallon Clinic Ophthalmology  Fallon Clinic Ophthalmology  Fallon Clinic Ophthalmology  Vitreo-Retinal Associates Worcester  Retina Consultants of Worcester  Meltzer Eye Care Center  Worcester Ophthalmology Assoc  Worcester Ophthalmology Assoc  Worcester Ophthalmology Assoc  Worcester Ophthalmology Assoc  Robert Gise MD  Dennis Arinella MD  Edward L Kazarian MD  Rice Ophthalmology Associates  Dennis Arinella MD  Tad D Baum MD  New England Eye Center  New England Eye Center  New England Eye Center  New England Eye Center  New England Eye Center  D'Ambrosio Eye Care  Keamy Eye & Laser Centre  Eye Physicians of Marlborough  Eye Physicians of Marlborough  Milford Eye Care  Valley Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Valley Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Valley Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Valley Eye Physicians & Surgeons  Robert H Gushard MD  Pediatrics and Adult Ophthalmics  Pediatrics and Adult Ophthalmics  Pediatrics and Adult Ophthalmics  Ophthalmic Consultants Of Boston  The Eye Center  Ophthalmic Consultants Of Boston  Ophthalmic Consultants Of Boston  Milford Franklin Eye Center  Milford Franklin Eye Center  Retina Eye Care Westfield, 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 Westfield
Nearby Westfield Hospitals *Western Massachusetts Hospital Baystate Medical Center Mercy Medical Center Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital Shriners Hospital for Children Noble Hospital Providence Hospital Kindred Hospital Park View Holyoke Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts Cooley Dickinson Hospital Northampton VA Medical Center Wing Memorial Hospital & Medical Center Johnson Memorial Hospital Rockville General Hospital St Francis Care Hospital Mount Sinai Campus The Hospital at Hebrew Healthcare Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital St Francis Hospital & Medical Center Manchester Memorial Hospital Baystate Mary Lane Hospital Hungerford Emergency & Medical Care Connecticut Children's Medical Center Hartford Hospital Institute of Living Hartford Hospital University of Connecticut Health Center John Dempsey VA Connecticut Healthcare System Newington Campus Cedarcrest Hospital Hospital for Special Care The Hospital of Central Connecticut New Britain Campus Veterans Home & Hospital Rocky Hill Harrington Memorial Hospital Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Bristol Hospital Franklin 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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Disease Prevention in Women
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Disease Prevention in Men
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Farsightedness
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