Glaucoma Diagnosis

The impact of glaucoma on your lifestyle.

In addition to checking vision and eye pressure, diagnosing glaucoma primarily involves a careful dilated optic nerve examination.

The optic nerves connects the eye to the brain, transmitting information, thus allowing us to see. A careful optic nerve exam can assess if optic nerve damage or glaucoma is present. It is also important to not only detect glaucoma but assess the severity of the disease as well as whether or not the disease process is stable or progressing. Various diagnostic tools, devices, and techniques are used by our ophthalmologists to help make these important determinations.

Glaucoma Treatments

Make sure you understand all your options.

It is well studied and documented that lowering eye pressure can slow down or prevent optic nerve damage or glaucoma.

Currently to lower pressure we use eye drops, laser procedures, and glaucoma surgery.

Generally, we start with less invasive treatment methods prior to considering procedures or surgery. There is ongoing research looking at other treatment options in addition to pressure lowering, however they are not well established yet and not part of basic glaucoma management at this time.

We are optimistic that other treatment options will be available in the future.

Glaucoma Surgery

Advanced intraocular pressure and when surgery is required.

Sometimes, even with full compliance to the prescribed medical treatments, patients with glaucoma may need eye surgery. While surgery cannot restore any lost vision, it can help protect your remaining vision and prevent this condition from worsening.

Glaucoma surgery involves either laser treatment or making a cut in the eye to reduce the intraocular pressure. The type of surgery your doctor recommends will depend on the type and severity of your glaucoma and the general health of your eye.

Surgery can help lower pressure when medication is not sufficient. However, it cannot reverse vision loss.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

Knowing when regular eye exams could save your vision.

There are a few factors that can put you at risk for glaucoma. These include:

• Age, (People over the age of 60 are more at risk.)
• Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease (suggested in some studies)
• Eye Trauma
• Corticosteroid use (hydrocortisone, prednisone, steroid eye drops etc)
• Other eye conditions such as eye inflammation, retinal detachments, and tumors
• Family history of glaucoma
• Race (African Americans are more likely to get Glaucoma)

If you’re over 60 or exhibit any of these other risk factors, it’s very important to have regular eye exams as early detection and treatment is crucial to lowering the risk of vision loss and blindness.