Glaucoma Treatment

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye condition that leads to damage of the optic nerve, which is the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain.

Damage to the optic nerve is often due to increased pressure in the eye, also known as intraocular pressure (IOP).

What are the causes?

The eye is filled with a clear liquid called aqueous humor. This liquid is always being made at the back of the eye and leaves the eye through the anterior chamber angle, located at the front of the eye.

Glaucoma occurs when this liquid, aqueous humor, is unable to exit the eye via the anterior chamber angle, causing pressure to build up in the eye.

Types of Glaucoma

Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma - This is the most common form of Glaucoma, where an increase in eye pressure occurs gradually over the years, and the pressure pushes on the optic nerve and the retina at the back of the eye. This form of Glaucoma is usually hereditary.

Angle-closure (acute) glaucoma - This form of Glaucoma occurs when aqueous humor fluid cannot exit the eye due to a blockage in the outflow channel, causing a quick, intense and painful rise in the intraocular pressure within the eye. Unlike open-angle glaucoma, which causes no pain and occurs slowly over time, Angle-closure glaucoma happens almost instantly and is a medical emergency.

Congenital glaucoma - Congenital glaucoma is present at birth and is hereditary. It results from the abnormal development of the fluid outflow channels in the eye.

Secondary glaucoma - This form of glaucoma is brought on by other health conditions or medications. This form of glaucoma can be triggered by drugs such as corticosteroids, eye diseases including uveitis, or systemic diseases.

Signs & Symptoms

Primary open-angle glaucoma and acute angle-closure glaucoma have completely different symptoms.

Many patients with open-angle glaucoma may not even know they have the condition until they are informed of it at an annual eye exam. Signs and symptoms of open-angle glaucoma may include:

• Gradual loss of peripheral vision, usually in both eyes
• Tunnel vision in the advanced stages

Patients with Acute angle closure glaucoma will be in distress when an attack occurs, and should be aware they need immediate medical attention. Signs and symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma may include:

• Severe eye pain
• Blurred vision
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Halos around lights
• Reddening of the eye or bloodshot appearance

Congenital glaucoma can usually be detected by the infant's parents within the first few months of the child's life. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Cloudiness of the front of the eye
• Enlargement of one eye or both eyes
• Red eye
• Sensitivity to light
• Tearing

Diagnosis & Tests

Glaucoma is often diagnosed with an eye exam. The doctor will need to examine the inside of the eye by looking through the pupil, often while the pupil is dilated.

Tests to diagnose glaucoma include:

• Gonioscopy (use of a special lens to see the outflow channels of the angle)
• Tonometry test to measure eye pressure
• Optic nerve imaging (photographs of the inside of the eye)
• Pupillary reflex response
• Retinal examination
• Slit lamp examination
• Visual acuity
• Visual field measurement

What are my treatment options?

Open angle Glaucoma is usually treated with eye drops, pills, or a combination of both. In some cases, surgery is necessary.

Eye drops are often the first initial approach to lowering the eye pressure. Your doctor will monitor you while on eye drops to ensure that the pressure in your eyes is maintained at a level low enough to prevent the progression of glaucoma. Some eye drops work by increasing uveoscleral output, while others work by decreasing aqueous humor production. You may need more than one type of eye drop.

A quick and painless laser treatment, to help open the fluid outflow channels, may be necessary for some patients. Other patients may require traditional surgery to open a new outflow channel.

Congenital glaucoma is almost always treated with surgery to open the outflow channels of the angle. The patient will not feel any pain and will be under anesthesia during the surgery.

Acute angle-closure attack is a medical emergency. The patient needs to seek treatment immediately in order to prevent any permanent damage to his or her vision. If treatment is not sought quickly, blindness may occur within days. An angle-closure attack will be treated with drops, pills, or medicine given through an IV. These are all methods used to lower the eye pressure. Some people also need an emergency operation, called an iridotomy, which involves using a laser to open a new channel in the iris. The new channel relieves pressure and prevents another attack.

We offer Glaucoma Treatment for patients in Spring Hill, Bayonet Point, Brooksville, Crystal River, Homosassa, Hudson, Lutz, New Port Richey, North Tampa, Port Richey, Ridge Manor, Weeki Wachee, Citrus County, Hernando County, Pasco County and surrounding communities.