Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve, the part of the eye which
receives images collected by the retina and sends them to the brain.
Every eye maintains a certain amount of internal pressure, called
intraocular pressure. When this pressure rises to abnormal levels
however, it can put extra stress on the optic nerve, causing
significant damage. Optic nerve damage results in loss of vision, and
ultimately blindness.
The front of the eye is constantly producing a fluid
called aqueous humor. A healthy eye will continually produce small
amounts of aqueous humor to ensure consistent pressure within the eye.
When normal drainage becomes slowed or blocked, pressure increases, and
may lead to glaucoma. There are several different types of glaucoma
the two most common types being chronic open-angle glaucoma and
closed-angle glaucoma.
Chronic open-angle glaucoma is the most common form
of the disease and usually develops with age. With this type of
glaucoma, pressure gradually increases around the eye causing it to
work less effectively over a period of time. There are no symptoms in
the early stages of open-angle glaucoma. Peripheral vision is usually
the first to deteriorate. As the disease becomes more advanced, blank
spots begin to appear in one’s vision. If left untreated, it
eventually develops to blindness. The best way to avoid serious vision
loss is early diagnosis and treatment.
Risk factors for chronic open-angle glaucoma include:
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Advanced age.
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Family history of the disease.
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Higher-than-normal intraocular pressure.
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Certain ethnic races, particularly those of African descent.
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Certain diseases or conditions, especially diabetes, farsightedness or nearsightedness, or previous eye trauma or surgery.
Closed-angle glaucoma is less prevalent, but is
considered a real eye emergency. This type of glaucoma occurs when a
patient’s pupil moves or dilates and actually blocks off the drainage
angles in the eye. This is considered a medical emergency in which an
ophthalmologist should be contacted immediately to avoid any loss of
vision.
Symptoms of closed-angle glaucoma include:
High risk factors for closed-angle glaucoma include:
Treatments for glaucoma:
There are a wide range of treatments for the
disease, including medication, laser surgery and traditional surgery.
The treatment (or combination of treatments) for an individual is
chosen based upon the type of glaucoma and other details of the
particular case. One option is medication such as prescription eye
drops which help to reduce intraocular pressure, or pills called
carbonic anhydrase inhibitors which slow down fluid production within
the eye.
Laser surgery has also become a common treatment
option for glaucoma. For open-angle glaucoma the doctor may choose a
trabeculoplasty, a painless laser procedure which uses light to shrink
and stretch eye tissue to allow more drainage of fluid. For
closed-angle cases, in which the iris is blocking drainage of aqueous
humor, a laser surgery called iridotomy may be preformed.
Other glaucoma treatment options involve various
traditional surgeries. A common surgery for open-angle glaucoma is the
trabeculectomy, where a doctor creates a small flap in the sclera
(white part of the eye). Underneath the surface of the sclera, the
doctor creates a small reservoir, called a filtration bleb, into which
aqueous fluid may drain and then be disbursed, further reducing
intraocular pressure.
There are a number of treatments available for
Glaucoma patients. If diagnosed with glaucoma, your ophthalmologist
will consult with you on your options in order to maintain the best
possible health of your eyes.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of glaucoma, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule a consultation.
In addition to treating glaucoma, Dr. Casey specializes in performing LASIK, PRK and LASEK in Las Vegas. He is also renowned as a leading Las Vegas and Henderson presbyopia treatment expert. Other procedures offered by Dr. Casey include implantation of Visian ICLs and cataract surgery ─ a sophisticated procedure whereby he removes patients’ clouded lenses and replaces them with sophisticated lens implants, such as ReStor, Crystalens or Tecnis IOLs.
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