Glaucoma Specialist

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease that develops when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye and increases pressure on your optic nerve.

There are two major types of glaucoma:

Primary open-angle glaucoma

Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma and develops gradually over time due to poor eye drainage. As the pressure builds up because of the excess fluids, pressure on the optic nerve can lead to permanent eye damage.

In early stages, primary open-angle glaucoma causes few symptoms, but over time, your vision blurs and the condition may become painful.

Angle-closure glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when your iris sits close to the drainage angle in your eye and causes a blockage. This can cause pressure in your eye to build up quickly, requiring immediate treatment to prevent blindness.

Symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma that call for emergency medical attention include:

• Headache
• Sudden blurry vision
• Severe eye pain
• Nausea and vomiting

It’s also common to see halos or rings in rainbow colors around lights during an acute attack.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

During a comprehensive eye exam, Dr. Prince and his team evaluate the overall health of your eye, such as measuring the pressure in your eye and assessing the drainage angle. They also examine your optic nerve to identify existing damage.

Based on the results of your exam, Dr. Prince takes time to discuss your options for treatment and works closely with you to make the right decision.

How is glaucoma treated?

Once you develop glaucoma damage, it’s permanent and you can’t treat or reverse it. Through medication therapy and surgery, Dr. Prince and his team focus on preventing additional damage and preserving the health of your eyes.

Available options for treating glaucoma include:

Medications

Medicated eye drops are available for lowering pressure in your eye by reducing the amount of fluid it produces.

Surgery

There are several types of surgery Dr. Prince offers to drain excess fluid from your eyes.

Trabeculoplasty

Trabeculoplasty is a laser procedure for treating open-angle glaucoma and focuses on improving the function of the drainage angle. This helps fluids drain away more efficiently.

Iridotomy

Iridotomy is a treatment for angle-closure glaucoma that uses a laser to create a small hole in the iris to drain fluids more efficiently.

Trabeculectomy

A trabeculectomy is a traditional surgical technique to create a flap in the outer layer of the eye to promote fluid drainage. Surgery also involves creating a pocket known as a filtration bleb that allows surrounding tissue to absorb extra fluids to lower eye pressure.

Glaucoma drainage implants

If other procedures aren’t right for you, you may need surgery to place a small drainage tube implant in your eye for improving drainage.

Dr. Prince and his team continue to manage your glaucoma care following surgery through routine checkups. During these visits, he ensures your medications are working and that the pressure in your eye is healthy.

To schedule a consultation to discuss your options for glaucoma treatment, call the office of Andrew M. Prince MD Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Surgery nearest you.