Glaucoma
Your ophthalmologist may refer to this disease as the “silent thief of sight” because there are usually no early symptoms. In the most common type of glaucoma, there is no pain and visual loss is gradual, and generally unrecognizable in the early stages. Another, less common type of glaucoma can be associated with symptoms of head pain, nausea, hazy vision, and vomiting. Learn more about the different Types of Glaucoma and the Symptoms of Glaucoma.
Variables that may put you at a higher risk for glaucoma are: People 60 years or older, African Americans, and a family history of the disease. The best way to rule out glaucoma, and other eye diseases is to have regular dilated eye exams.
There is no cure for glaucoma, but with proper treatment (prescription eye drops or sometimes surgery) and regular eye exams a patient can lead a normal and productive life with little or no vision loss.
Glaucoma Specialists at Kansas City Eye Clinic
Are You at Risk for Glaucoma?
You are at a higher risk for developing glaucoma if you have a family history of glaucoma. The more members of the family that have been diagnosed, the higher the risk. All children should be followed closely with yearly eye exams and the doctor should be made aware of who in the family has been diagnosed with this disease.
Other risk factors include those patients that are over the age of 40, have diabetes, are nearsighted (myopia), have a history of regular long-term steroid use, have a previous eye injury, or have extremely high or low blood pressure.
People of African and Latino descent are more likely to develop primary open angle glaucoma, while people of Asian descent are more likely to develop angle closure glaucoma and normal tension glaucoma.
Early stage glaucoma can occur without any symptoms, and only until the disease progresses does the patient have noticeable vision loss. If the patient goes undiagnosed and untreated, damage to the optic nerve can occur, which may cause permanent blind spots to develop in the peripheral (side) vision. These spots may not be noticeable until the optic nerve has become severely damaged and the amount of vision loss has begun to impede on the central vision. Optic nerve damaged and irreversible vision loss can be decreased and even avoided with proper early diagnosis and treatment through yearly eye exams with your optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Conversely, in angle closure glaucoma, an emergency condition in patients with narrow angle glaucoma, there may be symptoms before the attack. Some early symptoms can include blurred vision, halos, headache or mild eye pain or redness. At the time of a closed-angle glaucoma attack symptoms include, severe eye or brow pain, redness of the eye, decreased or blurred vision, seeing colored rainbows or halos, headache, nausea or vomiting. Patients experiencing these symptoms should immediately call and be seen by their eye doctor to avoid severe damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.
Glaucoma is usually referred to as the “thief of sight” disease because there are usually no symptoms associated with the progression of the disease until there is permanent damage. The only way to diagnose the disease in the early stages to prevent vision loss, is to have yearly eye examinations with your optometrist or ophthalmologist.
There are several different types of glaucoma. The most common types include open angle glaucoma, normal tension glaucoma and angle closure glaucoma. Other types of glaucoma can be induced by trauma, use of corticosteroids, due to exfoliation of the iris inside the eye, or congenital glaucoma.
Laser Surgery
Laser surgeries lower intraocular pressure by enhancing the drainage of aqueous fluid or slowing its production. The kind of laser surgery used depends on the type of glaucoma being treated.
In some cases, laser surgery may have to be repeated to control internal eye pressure more effectively. Typically, medications will still be needed to maintain fluid pressure within the eye, although a lower dose than previously used may be sufficient. If the laser therapy does not lower the pressure in the eye satisfactorily or the effects wear off, the surgeon may recommend conventional surgery.
Conventional Surgery
“Filtering microsurgery” is used when management of glaucoma through medication and laser surgery has failed or is less desirable. Trabeculectomy is commonly used to prevent or curtail damage to the optic nerve by reducing intraocular pressure.
In case of complicated glaucoma or patients who have had multiple surgeries, the use of a tube-shunt or seton is sometimes required. These devices have a plastic tube that is placed in the eye, which drains to an external reservoir placed outside the eye.
Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery
Micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) uses microscopic equipment and small incisions to bypass blockages or increase the outflow of fluid from the eye. The iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass and Hydrus stent can be inserted at time of cataract surgery to improve aqueous outflow and reduce intraocular pressure. There is also a new stent that has been approved as a standalone procedure.
The newest innovations in glaucoma are small implants that can be inserted into the front part of the eye that release glaucoma medication over a period of time. This can reduce the use of drops for some glaucoma patients. These are very new and have limited insurance coverage
Learn more about Glaucoma at the following patient education websites. These should only be used as a reference and not as a method of diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional for an evaluation.
