There’s hardly a need to overemphasize the importance of comprehensive eye exams in the early detection of eye conditions. One of these conditions is glaucoma. It so damages the optic nerve and limits your field of view that ignoring it can prove costly—eventually, it can make you blind.

More than two million Americans over age 40 suffer from the disease and are at risk of blindness. Only half of those know that they have symptoms, or the risks associated with it. You need not go blind from glaucoma. Avoid such a fate by understanding the importance of its early detection and diagnosis.

Avoid Extensive Damage to the Optic Nerve

The optic nerve plays a crucial role in your ability to see. It relays messages to your brain from your eyes, creating visual images. Each of your eyes has its own. They are a consolidation of millions of nerve fibers. Damage to these fibers can lead to vision loss in one or both eyes.

Various medical conditions affect the optic nerve, but glaucoma tops the list. As it presses on the optic nerve without early detection or diagnosis, it damages it. You can avoid this damage and, by extension, vision loss. Do so by getting regular comprehensive exams.

Avoid Blind Spots

The symptoms of glaucoma are not easy to spot in the early stages. You will need a comprehensive eye exam to detect and diagnose the disease. But when you notice blind spots in your vision, it shows the disease is advancing. 

These blind spots are cumbersome and sometimes dangerous. They distort the perception of some parts of the image, making it hard to accomplish your daily activities. Blind spots can be risky when you are driving. They can put you at risk of getting into an accident. 

Early Detection of Other Medical Conditions

Some medical conditions can lead to optic nerve damage. Early detection and diagnosis of glaucoma can help the doctor detect other underlying medical conditions. These include type 2 diabetes mellitus and low blood pressure. It can also alert the doctor to issues like having a thin central cornea. They will help you deal with this as they treat glaucoma.

Detection of Genetic Mutations

Some genetic mutations can put you at risk of developing glaucoma. These mutations may not be easy to spot or apparent. But early detection and diagnosis of glaucoma will help bring them to the surface. 

Their discovery can prevent you from getting other complications arising from the mutations. It also helps you take better care of your children since genetic mutations can pass on to them.

Avoid Blindness

Vision loss is a complication that can arise from glaucoma. But the condition develops slowly—it can take years before vision loss sets in. Early detection and diagnosis lead to treatment. It also slows the progression of the disease further. It spares you from wondering how different your life would have been if you had taken action.

For further information on glaucoma, visit Frisco Eye Clinic and Williams Eye Care at our offices in Frisco and Fairview, Texas. Call (972) 335-9529 or (972) 549-4255 to book an appointment today.