Glaucoma
We specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma, including advanced laser technology and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
Types of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease that causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve connecting the eye to the brain. Elevated eye pressure is the primary risk factor for glaucoma, but glaucoma damage may occur at “normal” or low pressures as well.
There are a variety of subtypes of glaucoma. The most common of which is primary open-angle glaucoma. Other subtypes include primary angle closure glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma and uveitic or inflammatory glaucoma, to name a few.
Glaucoma Effects
The irreversible vision loss that results from glaucoma typically affects the peripheral vision first. For this reason, glaucoma is usually asymptomatic until the late stages, when it may start to affect the central vision. Because of its silent nature, periodic testing must be done to ensure glaucoma is not developing or progressing.
These tests include tests of one’s peripheral vision using a specialized computer, high-resolution scans and/or pictures of the optic nerve and periodic checks of the eye pressure. Unfortunately, elevated eye pressure only causes symptoms (headaches, blurred vision, nausea) in extreme circumstances, so the lack of eye pain is not a reliable predictor of one’s eye pressure.
Meet Our Glaucoma Specialists
Glaucoma Treatment
Treatment of glaucoma is highly dependent on the subtype and severity of the disease. The primary goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower the eye pressure enough to stop or adequately slow progressive vision loss. Usually, treatment starts with pressure-lowering eye drop therapy. An in-office laser procedure called Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) may also be performed.
There are also a variety of surgical procedures, performed in an operating room, to lower the eye pressure. These surgical treatment options vary from Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), which is often done in conjunction with cataract surgery, to advanced incisional surgery like implantable tube-shunts and trabeculectomy (lowering eye pressure by creating a small drainage pathway outside of the eye).
What to Expect
At Medical Eye Specialists, we customize glaucoma treatment to meet each patient’s individual needs. We tailor therapy to match not just our patient’s ocular anatomy but also their lifestyle, mental well-being and physical health.