Glaucoma

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is not just one disease, but a group of different eye diseases. They all cause damage to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. This can lead to a gradual loss of vision if not treated.

Who is at Risk?

The risk of glaucoma increases with age. People with a family member who has glaucoma are also at higher risk. Other risk factors include taking steroid medications, eye injuries, and certain medical conditions like diabetes.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Glaucoma has no symptoms in the early stages, so you can't tell if you have it just by how your eyes feel. The only way to detect glaucoma early is through a comprehensive eye exam that measures eye pressure and checks the optic nerve. Even if your eye pressure is normal, you can still have glaucoma.

Treating Glaucoma

The goal of treatment is to lower eye pressure and prevent further vision loss. This is usually done with eye drops, but may also require laser treatment or surgery in some cases. Treatments don't improve vision, but they can help preserve the vision you have.

Eye Drops

Eye drops are the most common first-line treatment for glaucoma. There are many different types of eye drops that either reduce fluid production or improve fluid drainage in the eye.

Proper use of eye drops is important to maximize their effectiveness and minimize side effects.

Laser Treatments

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) - This laser treatment is used to improve drainage of fluid from the eye and lower eye pressure.

Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI) - This laser procedure is used to treat narrow or closed angle glaucoma by creating a small opening in the iris to improve fluid flow.

Laser Cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) - This laser treatment reduces fluid production in the eye by targeting the part that creates the fluid.

Incisional Surgery

Trabeculectomy - This surgery creates a new drainage pathway to lower eye pressure.

Glaucoma Drainage Implants - These implanted devices act as an artificial drainage system for the eye.

Canaloplasty - This surgery opens up the eye's natural drainage system to improve fluid outflow.

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)

Newer, less invasive surgical options like the iStent implant are also available to help lower eye pressure.

Importance of Regular Eye Exams

Since glaucoma has no early symptoms, regular eye exams are crucial for detecting it early when treatment is most effective. We recommend comprehensive eye exams every 1-2 years, especially if you are over 60 or have other risk factors.