Diagnosis & Treatment of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a serious condition that involves an elevation in pressure inside the eye caused by a build-up of excess fluid. Left untreated, it can destroy the optic nerve, which is the main nerve of the eye. It is estimated that over two million Americans have some type of glaucoma and half of them do not know it, missing the opportunity to seek treatment.

Symptoms

Common types of glaucoma show no symptoms in the early stages, until irreversible damage has already occurred. If intraocular pressure (IOP) rises to extreme levels, there may be some symptoms that occur. These include halos around bright light, blurred vision, headaches, nausea, and peripheral vision loss. If left untreated, the central vision can be affected. Unless severe, there is usually no pain involved with this condition, only gradual loss of vision, which can not be recovered.

Diagnosing Glaucoma

Measuring intraocular pressure is the most common way of detecting glaucoma. This is done through a method called tonometry, which measures the firmness of the eye’s surface. The procedure is quick and painless.

If elevated IOP is found, the optic nerve damage can be evaluated with an optical coherence tomography.

Humphrey Visual Field testing can also be done. This procedure maps the back of your eye and creates an image of what you can see.

Early detection of glaucoma is crucial in preventing vision loss. Regular comprehensive eye exams should be performed if you at risk for developing glaucoma.

Treatments

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be treated. It if is spotted in its early stages, blindness can almost always be prevented.

Glaucoma is a lifelong disease that can be controlled with the right treatment. Lowering the intraocular pressure is the main treatment for glaucoma. This can be done by medications, such as eye drops, laser treatment, and surgery if necessary.

First, eye drops are prescribed in order to lower the pressure inside the eye by decreasing the amount of aqueous humor the eye produces. Most types of glaucoma can be treated by the use of eye drops.

Some patients opt to have a laser procedure called selective laser trabeculoplasty, or SLT. With this method, the use of drops can most likely be eliminated. SLT uses an advanced laser to target certain cells with the drainage system in your eye in order for the eye to respond with its natural healing method. This reduces the intraocular pressure naturally. SLT is safe and effective and is also covered by most insurance plans.

SLT is performed on an outpatient basis and takes less than 5 minutes. This procedure is effective in 80% of patients.

Another type of laser treatment is endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP). With this procedure, the ciliary body, the part of the eye that produces the aqueous humor, is treated to reduce the amount of fluid produced.

If medications or laser surgery is ineffective for treating this disease, your ophthalmologist may suggest treatment of glaucoma through filtration surgery, where an incision is made to create a new drainage passage. This is also an outpatient procedure. After surgery, approximately 50% of patients no longer need medication.

After treatment, no matter how the condition is treated, it is important to continue regular eye exams in order to measure your IOP. This should be done every 3-6 months.

These treatments cannot restore vision loss due to damage of the optical nerve, which are irreplaceable. They can only help preserve your vision and keep it from deteriorating further.

The Eye Center of Texas treats all types of glaucoma.

To view types and causes of glaucoma, click here.