Glaucoma
What is Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a class of disorders that develop similarly. The amount of aqueous (pronounced a-kwee-us) humor, a watery fluid that fills the inside of the eyeball, begins to build up. As more of this fluid collects, it places greater pressure on all parts of the eye, including the optic nerve. Eventually the excess pressure destroys the nerve. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the US.
More than two million people in this country have glaucoma and about 80,000 are legally blind because of it. The condition is about three times as common among African Americans as among Caucasians or Hispanics. The risk for glaucoma increases rapidly with age, but the condition can affect any age group, including newborn infants and fetuses.
What Are Common Types of Glaucoma?
There are four major types of glaucoma: open angle (chronic), angle closure (acute), congenital, and secondary. All four types are characterized by increased pressure within the eyeball causing progressive damage to the optic nerve.
What Are The Symptoms of Glaucoma?
Often, there are no symptoms. Vision stays normal, and there is no pain. However, as the disease progresses, a person with glaucoma may notice his or her side vision gradually failing. Objects in the front may still be seen clearly, but objects to the side may be missed. As glaucoma worsens, the field of vision narrows and blindness results. Optic nerve damage reduces side vision first, and then central vision is affected. The result without proper treatment could be blindness.
What Are The Risk Factors for Glaucoma?
Risk factors for glaucoma include ethnicity, increasing age, diabetes, and the presence of glaucoma in another family member.
How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
Your eye doctor will take a detailed medical history and a comprehensive eye examination. The pressure inside the eye is called intraocular pressure (IOP), and if it is high, that is often a sign of glaucoma. To measure IOP, the doctor uses a tonometer, which may blow a puff of air onto your eye or it may be illuminated blue and gently placed directly on the surface of your eye after you eye has been numbed with topical anesthetic drops.
How Is Glaucoma Treated?
Glaucoma may be treated with either medication, laser treatment, or surgery. Medication is usually tried first. The drugs used are substances that reduce intraocular pressure. In general, they either decrease the rate at which aqueous humor is produced in the eye, or they increase the rate at which it is drained off. Various individual drugs and combinations of drugs may have to be tried to see which works best for any one patient.
At Mid Florida Eye Center, our specialists are dedicated to providing top-tier care for patients with open-angle glaucoma. Medications are a cornerstone in managing this condition, offering significant benefits by either enhancing fluid drainage from the eye or reducing its production. Taken daily, these medications help maintain safe eye pressure levels and can effectively control eye pressure for many years, allowing patients to enjoy a higher quality of life.
Benefits of Glaucoma Medications
Effective Eye Pressure Control
Glaucoma medications are highly effective in keeping eye pressure within a safe range, which is crucial for preventing damage to the optic nerve and preserving vision. For many patients, this means long-term stability and prevention of glaucoma progression.
Flexibility in Treatment
It’s normal for your medication regimen to evolve over time. This flexibility ensures that treatment remains effective even if your body develops a tolerance to a particular medication. Adjustments to your prescription, such as switching to a stronger drug or a different type of medication, are part of a personalized approach to maintaining optimal eye health.
Convenient Administration
Most glaucoma medications are available in the form of eye drops, making them easy to use. This convenient method of administration helps ensure that patients can adhere to their treatment plans consistently, leading to better outcomes.
New Horizons in Glaucoma Treatment
Our team at Mid Florida Eye Center is committed to staying at the forefront of glaucoma treatment innovations. Exciting developments in drug delivery methods, such as sustained-release medications, are on the horizon. These medications release the drug gradually over an extended period, potentially reducing the frequency of application and enhancing convenience for patients. This advancement can make the treatment process more efficient and reduce the likelihood of side effects.
In addition to new delivery methods, researchers are continually working to develop new classes of glaucoma medications. These new treatments aim to be more effective, require less frequent dosing, and have fewer side effects. Such advancements hold great promise for improving the quality of life for those managing glaucoma.
Comprehensive Care Coordination
To ensure the best possible treatment outcomes, it’s essential to inform all your healthcare providers about your glaucoma medications. This includes your family physician and any specialists you see. Sharing information about all medications you are taking, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and natural remedies, helps prevent potential interactions and side effects. If you experience any discomfort or have concerns about your medication, our doctors are here to help adjust your treatment plan to better suit your needs.
At Mid Florida Eye Center, we are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care for our patients with glaucoma. Our commitment to personalized treatment plans and staying abreast of the latest medical advancements ensures that you receive the best possible care. If you have any questions or concerns about your glaucoma treatment, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Other Treatment Options
Some patients do not respond well to medication. In such cases, laser treatments to increase the flow of aqueous fluid may be performed. For more severe cases or eyes that are not responding well to medications and laser treatments, special shunts may be inserted to open up the canals through which aqueous humor drains out of the eye. This surgical procedure provides a filtering channel, relieving the pressure within the eye.
The last decade has brought wonderful advances in the glaucoma surgical arena, with far smaller incisions, less tissue manipulation, and faster recovery. These surgeries are referred to as MIGS – Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery.
These surgeries are often combined with cataract surgery, as they are often done through the same incision, thereby greatly decreasing surgical manipulation of the eye, decreasing the time necessary for surgery, and promoting faster recovery and visual rehabilitation.
Dr. Panzo was the first physician in Lake County to use the leading-edge SLT Laser technology, which sends out tiny bursts of low-energy laser light to treat patients with open-angle glaucoma. The SLT reduces intraocular pressure, creates no scarring of the inner eye meshwork, and may reduce the need for lifelong use of eye drops or medications and the resulting side effects those medications may cause.
At Mid Florida Eye Center, we are dedicated to offering the latest and safest treatments for glaucoma. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us to schedule a consultation.
