Glaucoma for Riverside, CA | Dr. Bozner's Vision Lab Optometry & Dry Eye Treatment Center

Glaucoma services offered in the greater Riverside, CA area

Glaucoma affects more than 3 million Americans, and many don’t know they have it yet.

Compassionate glaucoma-certified eye doctor Richard Bozner, OD, provides early diagnosis and treatment at Dr. Bozner's Vision Lab Optometry & Dry Eye Treatment Center. Through regular comprehensive eye exams, you can take control and prevent glaucoma progression before you lose your vision. Call the Riverside, California, office or book your appointment online now.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve that carries signals from the retinas to your brain. This damage prevents normal transmission of visual signals and disrupts your vision. The most common types of glaucoma are:

Open-angle glaucoma

The most common form of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, affects about 95% of people with the disease. It occurs when inner eye fluid builds up gradually, damaging the optic nerve.

Closed-angle glaucoma

Closed-angle glaucoma occurs when the drainage angle inside the eye closes or gets blocked. This causes a rise in inner eye pressure. Chronic closed-angle glaucoma develops gradually, while acute closed-angle glaucoma happens very suddenly and is a medical emergency.

While very rare, glaucoma can also develop in people with normal eye pressure.

What causes glaucoma?

Glaucoma’s root cause is still unknown. But, some common risk factors for the disease include:

Age over 60
Age over 40 in African Americans
Family history of glaucoma
Preexisting diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease
Prior eye trauma
Thin corneas
Eye tumors
Eye inflammation
Retinal detachment
Long-term corticosteroid use

Some leading theories of the cause of glaucoma include failure of the drainage system inside the eyes and limited blood flow to the optic nerve.

While glaucoma is most common in people with clear risk factors, it can affect anyone, even children.

Does glaucoma lead to blindness?

If undiagnosed and untreated, glaucoma can lead to the loss of your peripheral (side) vision and, eventually, complete vision loss. But, your comprehensive eye exams are the key to preventing blindness.

Dr. Bozner's Vision Lab Optometry & Dry Eye Treatment Center includes glaucoma screening in comprehensive eye exams.

I have glaucoma. How can I prevent vision loss?

Early treatment, starting as soon as you’re diagnosed, is the best way to slow or stop the progression of glaucoma. There are many options for glaucoma treatment, but in most cases, you’ll start with prescription eye drops.

As a glaucoma-certified eye doctor, Dr. Bozner has unique skills in glaucoma diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management. He designs a treatment plan that helps you preserve your vision.

Along with eye drops, there are other options, like oral medications. Or, Dr. Bozner may refer you to an ophthalmologist for advanced glaucoma treatments like laser therapy or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.

Call Dr. Bozner's Vision Lab Optometry & Dry Eye Treatment Center or book your appointment through the online feature today.