Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. It occurs when the pressure inside the eye rises, damaging the optic nerve and causing vision loss. The condition often develops over many years without causing pain or other noticeable symptoms - so you may not experience vision progressed.
Sometimes symptoms do occur. They may include:

• Blurred vision
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Halo effects around lights
• Painful or reddened eyes

People at high risk include those who are over the age of 40, diabetic, near-sighted, African-American, or people who have a family history of glaucoma.

To detect glaucoma, your physician will test your visual acuity and visual field, as well as the pressure in your eye. Regular eye exams help monitor the changes in your eyesight, and determine whether you may develop glaucoma.

Once diagnosed, glaucoma can be controlled, and auxiliary vision loss can be prevented. Treatments to lower pressure in the eye include non-surgical methods such as prescription eye drops and medications, laser therapy, and surgery.

Glaucoma Surgery

Some cases of glaucoma can be treated with medications. For others, laser or traditional surgery is required to lower eye pressure. Common surgeries include:

• Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI) - For patients with narrow-angle glaucoma. A small hole is made in the iris to increase the angle between the iris and cornea and encourage fluid drainage.
  
  
• Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT) and Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) - For patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). The trabecular passages fluid drainage. ALT is effective in about 75% of patients, and SLT may be repeated.
  
  
• YAG Laser Cyclophotocoagulation (YAG CP) - For patients with severe glaucoma damage who have not been helped with other surgeries. The ciliary body that produces intraocular fluid is destroyed.
  
  
• Filtering Microsurgery (Trabeculectomy) - For patients who have not been helped with laser surgery or medications. A new drainage passage is created by cutting a small hole in the sclera (the white part of the eye) and creating a collection pouch between the sclera and conjunctiva (the outer covering of the eye).
  
  
• Tube Shunt Surgery - May be recommended for patients with neovascular glaucoma, failed trabeculectomy, or susceptibility to developing scar tissue. A thin, flexible tube (a shunt) with a silicone pouch is inserted in the eye to facilitate drainage.

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