Glaucoma is an eye condition that can be caused by increased pressure from the fluid inside the eye. This pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve. In a healthy eye, this fluid flows out of the eye through a mesh-like path. If this path is blocked or does not allow good drainage of the fluid, pressure builds up, causing glaucoma. In the early stages of the disease, there may be no symptoms.

Experts estimate that half of the people affected by glaucoma may not know they have it.

Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve acts like an electric cable with over a million wires. It is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain. If damage to the optic nerve from high eye pressure persists, glaucoma will worsen your sight.

When left untreated, glaucoma can cause loss of sight in just a few years. Glaucoma usually occurs in both eyes, but it may involve each eye to a different extent.

What Are The Symptoms Of Glaucoma?

The following are symptoms of glaucoma, which often go unnoticed until an advanced stage of the disease.

• Vision loss

• Seeing halos around lights

• Narrowing of vision (tunnel vision)

• An eye that looks hazy

• Nausea or vomiting

• Pain in the eye

How Is Glaucoma Treated?

There is no cure for glaucoma—yet. However, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. The appropriate treatment depends upon the type of glaucoma among other factors. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease. Damage caused by glaucoma is irreversible but studies suggest that for most people, lowering eye pressure slows the advance of glaucoma and prevents further vision loss. For this reason, glaucoma treatments focus on lowering eye pressure.

This can be done through the use of medication drops, laser procedures like Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) or cataract surgery combined with a bypass stent (iStent) or Omni.

SLT Laser (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasy)

• In office laser procedure aimed at opening the internal drainage area in the eye.

• Usually results in lowering eye pressure (IOP) by 20-30%.

• A painless 2 minute procedure done one eye at a time.

• The pressure lowering effect usually lasts 1-3 years, and can be repeated as necessary.

• Often used as first line therapy to delay the need for daily eye drops.

iStent

• Glaucoma drainage device FDA approved in 2012

• Used in combination with cataract surgery to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in adult patients with mild to moderate glaucoma.

• The smallest device ever approved by the FDA at 0.5 x 1.0 mm.

• iStent creates a permanent opening in the trabecular meshwork to improve the flow of fluid.

• Recovery is similar to cataract surgery alone.

Omni

• Implant-free glaucoma procedure, FDA approved in 2017

• Can be done at the same time as cataract surgery or performed as a solo procedure

• Unclogs the pressure buildup in the eye by removing unnecessary blockages

• Recovery is similar to cataract surgery alone

Talk to your doctor to find out which glaucoma treatment is right for you.