Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosing and treating glaucoma to help patients avoid severe symptoms, including blindness.

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that involve optic nerve damage resulting from excessive intraocular pressure. Over time, glaucoma can lead to increasing and permanent loss of vision. Many patients first experience imperceptible blind spots in the periphery of their vision, later developing tunnel vision followed by blindness.

Diagnosing Glaucoma

Glaucoma results from reduced removal or increased production of aqueous humor, a clear fluid inside the eye. After the resulting high pressure damages the optic nerve, blind spots appear. Ophthalmologists divide glaucoma into open-angle and closed-angle types. Open-angle, or chronic, glaucoma develops more slowly and may not be noticed by patients until the disease has caused significant damage. Glaucoma may also occur temporarily after retinal procedures and can happen alongside some types of retinal disorders.

Who Is Likely to Get Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is most often diagnosed in men and women over 40 years old. Those with high blood pressure, ocular hypertension, or diabetes have a greater risk of developing glaucoma. Vision problems, such as nearsightedness and migraines, are also associated with heightened glaucoma risk. Finally, African Americans and those who have family members with glaucoma are more likely to suffer from this disorder.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

In the initial stages of glaucoma, symptoms are not usually noticeable. This means an ophthalmologist should regularly check patients at risk of this disorder through a comprehensive eye exam. The eye doctor can detect glaucoma by analyzing a patient’s visual field, optic nerves, and intraocular pressure. When closed-angle glaucoma occurs, patients may suffer from visual disturbances, such as halos surrounding lights, headaches accompanied by nausea, and pain behind or inside of the eye. However, many patients experience no symptoms before being diagnosed.

Treatment Options for Glaucoma

While optic nerve damage itself cannot be reversed, advancements in glaucoma treatment offer hope. Early detection leads to successful prevention of vision loss through interventions like eye drops and laser therapy. Nutritional support, such as lutein and vitamin C, can improve eye health. Patients can take an active role in preserving their vision.

Surgical treatment for glaucoma can be performed using either microsurgical instruments or a laser to improve the eye’s drainage and lower the pressure inside the eye. While damage from glaucoma cannot be reversed, outcomes are usually excellent if it is caught early and treated correctly.

Schedule an Appointment Online

Schedule Online Now

Laser Treatment for Glaucoma

There are several laser treatment options available for patients suffering from glaucoma, including:

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty

Eye doctors utilize a laser to begin a biological change in the eye’s drainage tissue, facilitating better drainage and reducingintraocular pressure. Post-operative side effects are almost non-existent, and healing is usually managed with an oral NSAID or eye drops to reduce inflammation or pressure from swelling. This treatment is generally recommended if eye drops are not viable or proven insufficient. It is most often administered to those with open-angle glaucoma in which the frontal drainage system of the eye is open.

YAG Capsulotomy (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet)

YAG Capsulotomy is often helpful for membrane clouding following a cataract removal. Three out of four individuals with cataract surgery will eventually require this simple treatment. A laser is directed at the membrane or capsule, which remains after lens removal, creating a clear space in the capsule’s center and improving vision. This is a straightforward procedure that we perform in a single outpatient appointment. The risk of retinal swelling is minimal, and most patients with the procedure experience few, if any, ill effects or pain. The most commonly noted side effect was a brightness of colors and a slight red haze after being out in direct sunlight soon after the surgery. This is the body’s natural response to renewed clarity of vision after a long period of blurred or clouded sight.

Laser Peripheral Iridotomy

This procedure is typically recommended for patients with narrow-angle glaucoma or acute-angle closure glaucoma. In the case of the former, it is considered a preventative measure to ensure that the patient does not develop the latter. LPI opens the narrow-angle, the part of the eye associated with fluid drainage. If the patient already suffers from acute angle closure glaucoma, the laser is used to make a tiny opening in the peripheral iris, which allows fluid to drain more normally and reduces intraocular pressure (IOP).

Get Help for Glaucoma today

To determine the most effective treatment for your specific glaucoma case, we strongly recommend scheduling an in-person office visit at one of our Las Vegas clinics. During this visit, we can assess the current state and progression of your condition. Based on our findings, we may initiate treatment with a straightforward approach, such as prescribing a customized regimen of medicated eye drops.