Glaucoma is an eye disease that is characterized by a sudden or gradual increase in pressure in the eye. Since it is mostly asymptomatic other than progressive vision loss, it’s important to get regular eye exams with our clinical optometrist to check for changes in your vision and to test the pressure in your eyes.
Our Glaucoma Clinic
Our Glaucoma Eye Service Exam includes all the comprehensive evaluations of our basic eye exam, with additional specialized techniques to screen for glaucoma. In addition to measuring intraocular pressure, we conduct advanced tests such as visual field testing, gonioscopy to examine the drainage angle of the eye, central corneal thickness measurement and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to assess the optic nerve for early signs of damage.
Glaucoma causes
Glaucoma is an eye disease that most often develops after the age of 60, but is also possible that it may occur earlier. It is believed to be hereditary, and there have been several genes identified that relate to the development of high internal eye pressure. The condition causes a buildup of fluid in the front part of the eye, which increases the pressure in the eye. When the pressure increases, it causes damage to the optic nerve.
Once this damage occurs, it cannot be reversed. Therefore, it is extremely important to get your eye pressure tested on a yearly basis by visiting {PRACTICENAME). This test is painless and relatively fast. It is either performed by blowing a puff of air into your eye or by touching a pen-like device to the front of your eye. If the latter test is used, numbing eye drops will be placed into your eyes in order to reduce discomfort.
Glaucoma Types and Symptoms
There are two types of glaucoma, including open-angle and closed-angle. In order to understand these two types, it’s important to understand how the fluid flows through the front of the eye. Your eyes create fluid that circulates internally. Once the circulation process is complete, it drains through an opening between the iris and cornea, called the trabecular meshwork. When the trabecular meshwork becomes partially or completely clogged, it results in higher than normal eye pressure.
Open-Angle: Most individuals have open-angle glaucoma. This occurs when the trabecular meshwork is partially blocked. The blockage causes decreased outflow of fluid which results in a gradual increase in eye pressure. This process can be painless so slight that individuals can have significant vision loss before they realize there is a problem. There are typically no other symptoms associated with this form of the disease.
Closed-Angle: Closed-angle glaucoma, also known as angle-closure glaucoma (ACG), is a medical emergency that occurs when the drainage angle of the eye becomes blocked, causing a sudden and severe increase in eye pressure. Closed-angle Glaucoma is considered more of an emergency situation. If your vision suddenly becomes blurry, have a sudden severe headache, eye pain, nausea or halos or colors around lights, it is important to call our practice urgently to schedule an appointment.
Risk Factors for Increased Eye Pressure
- Older age
- Have a History of Eye Surgery
- Have a Previous Eye Injury
- Having Extreme Nearsightedness or Longsightedness
- High Internal Eye Pressure
- Positive family history of Glaucoma
Treatments for High Intraocular Eye Pressure
Glaucoma can be treated, and the inner pressure in your eye can be reduced in order to prevent damage to your optic nerve. Common treatments include medications and/or laser eye surgery, our team of Clinical Optometrists will screen/ monitor and refer you for appropriate treatment if needed.
Eye Medications - The most common treatment used to reduce internal eye pressure is daily eye drops. These eye drops can either decrease the amount of fluid the eye produces, or they can increase the flow of fluid through the trabecular meshwork.
Laser Eye Surgery - If the eye drops fail to adequately reduce the internal pressure in the eye, laser eye surgery may be needed. This surgery involves either opening the trabecular meshwork or creating a very small hole in the iris to increase fluid drainage.
Conventional or incisional surgery (trabeculectomy) - This is used when medication or laser surgery fails to bring the internal pressure down. Incisional surgery involves creating a drainage hole with the use of a small surgical tool. The new opening allows the intraocular fluid to bypass the clogged drainage channel and flows out of this new artificial drainage channel
Aqueous shunt surgery - During this surgery a tiny tube is implanted that drains fluid out of the eye
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS): These less invasive procedures enhance fluid outflow with fewer complications and faster recovery times compared to traditional surgery.
