Prevent Vision Loss; Test for Glaucoma Today
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease of the optic nerve which connects the eye to the brain. When damage to the optic nerve occurs, blind spots develop and if the damage remains undetected and untreated, permanent blindness can result.
What Causes Glaucoma?
The eye has clear fluid called aqueous humor circulating in it. In glaucoma, the fluid drains too slowly out of the eye, building up the pressure and causing damage to the optic nerve.
Who Is at Risk?
- African Americans over age 40
- Everyone over age 60
- People with a family history of glaucoma
- Diabetics
- Anyone with elevated eye pressure
What Are the Symptoms?
Typically, open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms in its early stages. Vision stays normal and there is no pain. As damage progresses, blind-spots or decreased peripheral vision develops. Without treatment, permanent blindness can eventually result.
How Is Glaucoma Detected?
The best way to detect glaucoma is by having a complete dilated eye exam. At Sylvester Eye Care & Aesthetics we will check your intraocular pressure and evaluate your optic nerve for damage. If necessary, we will do a visual field test to evaluate for peripheral vision loss and perform a computerized scan of the optic nerve called an OCT.
How Is Glaucoma Treated?
- Medications: Eye drops are the most commonly used early treatment for glaucoma and many patients can be controlled on medication alone
- Laser Surgery: Our doctors may recommend a simple, in-office laser surgery if necessary. There are two types of laser treatments: SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) and LPI (Laser Peripheral Iridotomy). Both are virtually painless and only take a few minutes
- Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS): Our doctors perform two different MIGS procedures. The first, called ECP (EndoCycloPhotocoagulation), is a laser procedure performed at the time of cataract surgery. The second, called an iStent, is a drainage device implanted at the time of cataract surgery. Both procedures can lower the eye pressure and add only a few minutes to the cataract procedure with no measurable additional risk
