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Glaucoma
Are you concerned about vision loss from glaucoma? Understanding the signs, symptoms, and treatment options available can help preserve as much of your eyesight as possible.
At Georgia Eye Associates, our expert ophthalmologists will work with you to provide high-quality care and effective treatments for glaucoma so you can enjoy clear vision for years to come.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a progressive eye condition that can cause serious damage to your vision. If left untreated, it can even lead to blindness.
Glaucoma occurs when fluid builds up in the front of the eye, increasing intraocular (eye) pressure and damaging the optic nerve. While there are many different types of glaucoma, the two most common forms are open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma.
More than 90% of glaucoma patients have open-angle glaucoma. This form occurs when the eye does not drain fluid as well as it should, typically due to blockages within the trabecular meshwork of the eye, resulting in gradual increases in pressure over time.
Closed-angle glaucoma, which is when the drainage canal of the eye is too narrow, can also occur gradually but carries the risk of acute attacks that can cause rapid, irreversible vision loss.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma?
Open-angle glaucoma often presents with no symptoms at first but will likely start affecting your peripheral vision as it continues to progress. On the other hand, acute closed-angle glaucoma attacks can have symptoms like:
- Severe forehead and eye pain
- Seeing rainbows or halos around lights
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurry vision
- Red eyes
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you must seek medical assistance immediately. An acute closed-angle glaucoma attack is considered a medical emergency as it can result in sudden, permanent vision loss.
Can You Prevent Glaucoma?
The most effective way to prevent glaucoma is by getting comprehensive eye exams regularly. At these exams, your eye doctor will perform various tests, such as visual field testing, tonometry, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and gonioscopy, to look for signs of glaucoma.
If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, it is best to develop a treatment plan as soon as possible to help maintain and preserve your vision. While everyone should attend regular eye exams, if you have any of these risk factors for developing glaucoma, it is even more crucial for you to stay on top of your eye exams:
- Being 40 years or older
- Having a family history of glaucoma
- Being nearsighted or farsighted
- Using long-term steroid medications
- Being of Asian, Hispanic, or African descent
- Having high blood pressure, diabetes, or migraines
- Having thin corneal centers or optic nerves
- Having high eye pressure.
By scheduling routine eye exams with your ophthalmologist, you can help ensure any signs of glaucoma are detected as early as possible, leading to better treatment outcomes.
Glaucoma Treatment
Once you’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma, your ophthalmologist at Georgia Eye Associates may recommend various treatments based on the type and severity of your condition, such as:
Eye Drops
Your eye doctor may prescribe eye drops that can help lower intraocular pressure. They do this by either reducing the amount of fluid the eye is producing or by improving drainage.
While they are often a first-in-line treatment for glaucoma, they do have certain drawbacks, including needing to follow a strict application schedule and side effects like redness and irritation. This causes some patients to opt for longer-lasting treatments like selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) or Kahook Dual Blade goniotomy.
Laser Procedures
Laser procedures to treat glaucoma are great for patients who want a minimally invasive way to lower their intraocular pressure and potentially reduce their need for eye drops. Some of these include:
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) uses low-energy laser light to target melanin-containing cells in the trabecular meshwork. This lowers eye pressure by helping fluid flow better through the drainage canal.
Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI)
Laser peripheral iridotomy is an effective treatment for closed-angle glaucoma or narrow-angle glaucoma that involves using a specialized laser to make a tiny hole in the iris to encourage fluid drainage.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, or MIGS, are quick, easy procedures that can help reduce intraocular pressure and often reduce your reliance on prescription eye drops.
Georgia Eye Associates offers many MIGS procedures, including:
iStent
The iStent procedure involves placing two tiny stents in your eye during cataract surgery. These stents connect at the back of your eye to help improve drainage, lowering intraocular pressure.
Kahook Dual Blade Goniotomy
Kahook Dual Blade goniotomy involves using the state-of-the-art Kahook Dual Blade to remove part of the trabecular meshwork, encouraging better fluid drainage and reducing eye pressure.
iDose TR
The iDose TR is a tiny implant that continuously delivers the proprietary glaucoma medication travoprost to your eye to lower intraocular pressure. This can reduce or eliminate your need for prescription glaucoma eye drops for up to three years.
Choosing the iDose TR to manage your glaucoma offers multiple benefits, including:
Reduced Reliance on Eye Drops
A common frustration among glaucoma patients is the strict, repeated application of eye drops that lower intraocular pressure. Some find it interrupts their daily routine, while others have trouble remembering to apply the drops, putting their eyes at risk for rises in eye pressure.
Instead, the iDose TR consistently and automatically releases the same type of medication directly into your eye, saving you the time and hassle of using prescription eye drops.
Fewer Side Effects
Some patients experience frustrating side effects when using traditional glaucoma drops, including redness, dry eyes, and changes in appearance around the eye. The iDose TR can reduce these side effects, offering you more comfort.
Quick and Easy Procedure
The procedure to implant the iDose TR is short and painless, and it only takes a day or two to recover. It begins working instantly after being implanted, meaning you can quickly return to all your normal activities with the added protection of the iDose TR from rises in intraocular pressure.
Before beginning your iDose TR procedure, your ophthalmologist at Georgia Eye Associates will apply anesthetic eye drops to your eyes to numb them. Once you are comfortable, they will make a tiny incision in your eye and use a sterile, single-dose inserter to place the iDose TR.
Your ophthalmologist will repeat the procedure in your other eye. Then, you can have a friend or loved one drive you home to begin recovery. You’ll likely only need one to two days of downtime, and then you can resume regular activities.
However, your eye doctor will provide specific instructions for your post-operative care and follow-up appointment schedule.
Traditional Glaucoma Surgery
If less invasive procedures haven’t been effective at treating your glaucoma, your ophthalmologist may recommend a traditional glaucoma surgery, such as:
Tube Shunt Surgery
Tube shunt surgery involves placing a tiny, flexible tube within the eye to improve fluid drainage. This procedure may be recommended for patients with neovascular glaucoma or susceptibility to developing scar tissue.
YAG Laser Cyclophotocoagulation (YAG CP)
YAG laser cyclophotocoagulation (YAG CP) is typically suited for patients with severe glaucoma. It involves destroying the ciliary body that produces intraocular fluid with a specialized laser.
Trabeculectomy
Trabeculectomy is a glaucoma surgery that involves your eye surgeon making a small passageway from the inside to the outside of your eye to improve fluid drainage.
Do you want to protect your vision from glaucoma and explore treatment options? Schedule an appointment with Georgia Eye Associates today to be proactive about your eye health and vision!
