January: Glaucoma Awareness Month
“Glaucoma: The Silent Thief of Sight and How to Fight Back.”
Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye’s optic nerve. It normally happens when fluid builds up in the front part of the eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in the eye, damaging the optic nerve.1 If left untreated, or improperly treated, patients may have permanent, irreversible vision loss. Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” because it has no warning signs. Glaucoma can reduce vision, sometimes making objects look blurry or dark around the outside edges of vision. Regular, comprehensive dilated eye exams are the only reliable way to detect glaucoma early before irreversible damage to your vision occurs.
There are several types of glaucoma, but they are generally grouped into two main categories:
- Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: The eye’s main drainage angle is open, but the internal drainage channels are somehow clogged or not working efficiently, causing pressure to build up slowly over time.
- Angle-Closure Glaucoma: This is an acute form of glaucoma that happens when the iris (colored part of the eye) bulges and partially or completely blocks the drainage angle, causing a sudden, severe rise in eye pressure.
Some people have a higher than normal risk for developing glaucoma. This includes people who:
- Have high eye pressures
- Are farsighted or nearsighted
- Had an eye injury
- Have used steroid medications long-term
- Have thinner corneas
- Have thinning of the optic nerve
- Have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation
- Are over the age of 40
- Have a family history of glaucoma
- Are of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage
Prescription eye drops are the most common treatment for glaucoma. Taken as prescribed, eye drops are generally effective at controlling pressure and managing glaucoma. But drops can be costly, cause uncomfortable side effects, and be challenging to put in the eye. The good news? Many insurance companies cover innovative glaucoma treatments to protect your vision! You could reduce or potentially eliminate the need for glaucoma eye drops with our advanced treatments here at Valley Eye Associates.
Do you have difficulty putting drops in your eyes? Do you have any side effects with any of your current glaucoma eye drops? Do you often forget to put your eye drops in? Do you wish your glaucoma drops were more affordable? – If you answered yes to any of these questions, then make sure to ask your Valley Eye doctor if a laser or an implant is right for you!
Our #1 treatment for glaucoma is a DSLT (direct selective laser trabeculoplasty). This procedure is more streamlined and comfortable for the patient, with the procedure only lasting a couple seconds. This is then followed by medication implants (such as Durysta) or eye drops. If these options are not recommended for a patient, then there are times when a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (such as inserting a microscopic stent) is performed for the patient instead.
Treating glaucoma successfully is a team effort between you and your doctor. Your doctor will recommend the best option for you! For proper glaucoma management, your doctor may want to see you every 3-6 months, depending on your treatment needs.
If you have any questions about your eyes or a possible treatment, talk to your Valley Eye doctor today!