Glaucoma Treatment & Care

In most cases of chronic glaucoma, there are no symptoms before it has slowly progressed to a later stage. At that point, patients may notice loss of peripheral vision, though many do not. Since early warning signs chronic of glaucoma are rare, medical eye examinations every 1-2 years are crucial.

On the other hand, patients with acute angle closure whose IOP rises quickly may experience severe symptoms, such as:

• Blurred vision, especially at night
• Halos around lights
• Severe headaches or eye pain
• Nausea

If you experience any of these glaucoma symptoms, consult your eye doctor immediately.

Glaucoma generally affects adults over the age of 40, but studies show individuals at greater risk for glaucoma include those who:

• Are over the age of 60
• Have a family history of the disease, elevated intraocular pressure
• Are African-American over the age of 40
• Are Asian
• Are Hispanic over the age of 60
• Have diabetes or hypertension
• Are very nearsighted or farsighted
• Are steroid users
• Have had an eye injury

To help detect glaucoma in its early stages, the Holtebeck Eye Center operates within a sophisticated, state-of-the-art diagnostic facility. Your comprehensive glaucoma screening combines various non-invasive tests (computerized visual field testing, optic nerve imaging, blood flow measurement, and other advanced imaging techniques) to deliver the most accurate assessment.

Your screening may include the following:

• Tonometry: To measure internal eye pressure
• Visual Field: To check for vision loss in peripheral (side) vision
• Spectral Domain OCT: To precisely measure the retinal nerve fiber layer and monitor/detect optic nerve loss
• Optic Disc Photography: To document the severity of nerve damage and monitor changes
• Pachymetry: To measure cornea thickness, which can affect eye pressure readings
• Gonioscopy: To examine the eye’s drainage angle

There are several treatment options for glaucoma, including everything from medicine (eye drops and topical/oral medications) to various types of eye surgery, described below:

• Laser Therapy: An outpatient procedure in which the surgeon uses a gentle laser to open clogged channels and release fluid build-up within in the eye
• Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS): A less invasive treatment option designed to use microscopic equipment and tiny incisions to lower eye pressure and prevent progression for certain types of glaucoma.

MIGS is a gentle glaucoma treatment option developed to lower eye pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma. While there is no cure for glaucoma, MIGS can greatly decrease glaucoma medications, slow disease progression, and delay the need for other surgical intervention.

Several MIGS options include:

• OMNI procedure
• Ab-Interno Canaloplasty
• iStent
• iStent inject
• Endoscopic CycloPhotocoagulation (ECP)

MIGS may also be performed at the same time as cataract surgery, allowing many to achieve clearer vision and decrease IOP in one convenient procedure.

To find out if MIGS may be right for you, contact our office today.