Glaucoma
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness
in the United States. Glaucoma is a common eye
disease characterized by increased fluid pressure
in your eye that damages the optic nerve, which
carries visual impulses to the brain. Most forms
of glaucoma do not produce symptoms until your
vision is already severely damaged. But if diagnosed
early, the disease can be controlled and permanent
vision loss can be prevented.
What is involved in a glaucoma evaluation?
We perform a comprehensive glaucoma screening
that consists of three non-invasive, pain-free
procedures:
- Measurement of intraocular eye pressure (IOP).
Elevated IOP is a major risk factor for the
development of glaucoma. Optic nerve damage
becomes more likely as the IOP increases.
- Assessment of the optic nerve. A slit lamp
microscope is used to determine whether or not
there are changes in the optic nerve.
- Evaluation of your visual field. Glaucomatous
damage produces characteristic defects in the
visual field.
What is the treatment for glaucoma?
Glaucoma treatment seeks to decrease
your intraocular pressure and prevent damage to
the optic nerve. Different types of glaucoma require
different therapies. At the beginning of treatment,
your doctor generally will recommend medication
or a combination of medications for your specific
condition. Therapies may include:
- Eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure.
Several different classes of glaucoma medications
are available including beta-blockers, prostaglandin
analogues, alpha adrenergic agonists, miotics
and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. These medications
work by either reducing the rate at which fluid
in the eye is produced or increase the outflow
of fluid from the eye.
- Laser treatment to open the drainage angle
and reduce intraocular pressure.
- Surgery to create a new passage for fluid
drainage. This treatment usually is reserved
for cases that cannot be controlled by medications
and/or laser treatment.
Glaucoma operations have been shown to be safe
and effective surgical treatments. The following
surgical procedures lower the intraocular pressure
by creating a route for aqueous fluid to drain
out of the eye:
Drainage implants: A tube
inserted into your eye shunts the aqueous fluid
that circulates through your eye to a silicone
plate that is attached to the white portion
of your eye (sclera).
Trabeculectomy: An opening,
surgically created under a trap-door incision
in the sclera, allows the aqueous fluid to drain.
Anti-scarring medications such as mitomycin
or flurouracil are commonly applied at your
operation site to reduce scarring that could
close the trap door.
To learn more about glaucoma, read some frequently
asked questions in our Patient
Education section.
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