Glaucoma is an eye disease that develops over time as a result of faulty fluid drainage. The two types are open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. In the first kind, the eye’s failure to drain leads to a clog. In the latter type, the drainage angle becomes blocked by the iris. With open-angle, patients notice vision issues slowly over time. When it comes to angle closure, patients may suffer an acute attack if the drainage angle becomes fully blocked. These attacks can include sudden blurred vision, eye pain, headaches, vision disruptions, and more. And there are many other glaucoma symptoms to watch out for. Additionally, risk factors include being age 40 or above and having a family history of glaucoma.
While it is a permanent condition that cannot be reversed, there are medicines and surgery that prevent further development and damage from occurring. The Holtebeck Eye Center in Brookfield offers several options for treatment for glaucoma.
Medication Treatment For Glaucoma
There are some medications that are formulated to treat the advancement of glaucoma. As such, these medications can help prevent glaucoma from developing and/or becoming worse. One of the most common glaucoma medicines comes in the form of prescription eye drops. These drops can work to reduce eye pressure, assisting in the prevention of optic nerve damage. It is important to note that these drops, as with any other medication, do not reverse vision loss or cure glaucoma. Talk with Dr. Holtebeck about if these eye drops might be right for your condition.
Laser Surgery for Treating Glaucoma
For people with open-angle glaucoma, there is sometimes the option for laser eye surgery. In order to lower intraocular pressure inside your eye, this surgery assists fluid in draining from your eye. During laser surgery for glaucoma, your eye doctor applies numbing drops to your eyes and aims a laser into your eyes to drain fluid.
Again, this option will not work to reverse any vision loss you have already incurred, but it can help in the further development of symptoms in some cases. Your eye doctor will know best if this option is suitable to your form of glaucoma and its level of advancement.
Operating Room Surgery To Address Glaucoma
A similar option to laser surgery is more-traditional operating room surgery that seeks to address open-angle glaucoma. During the procedure, your doctor creates a very small opening under your eyelid that provides a route for excess fluid to drain from the eye. When done successfully, this glaucoma surgery can help to lower the pressure in your eye.
When you come to the Holtebeck Eye Center for glaucoma treatment options, Dr. Holtebeck may discuss this option if he determines that it may be appropriate for you and your glaucoma symptoms.
What Is The Right Option For You?
The only way to know for sure which of these options will work best for your glaucoma case is to meet with Dr. Holtebeck to discuss your symptoms. He will also examine your eyes using all necessary tools and technology to determine the glaucoma advancement. What treatment for glaucoma is right for you will depend on many factors, such as the advancement of your symptoms. Book an appointment at the Holtebeck Eye Center today to discuss your options with Dr. Holtebeck.