Glaucoma Treatment
At Alliance Vision Institute
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, and due to its tendency to cause vision loss without warning, it’s been dubbed the “silent thief of sight.” At Alliance Vision Institute, our glaucoma specialists manage this condition with early detection, cutting-edge treatments, and a personally-tailored plan to get it under control before it affects your eyesight.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions in which intraocular pressure (IOP) builds up in the eye, which can press on the optic nerve and cause vision loss. Two types of glaucoma are far more common than the rest:
- Open angle glaucoma makes up over 90% of cases. The eye’s drainage paths become clogged over time, causing fluid and intraocular pressure (IOP) to build and damage your eye.
- Angle closure glaucoma is less common but much more urgent. Drainage paths in the eye suddenly become blocked and cause swift vision loss. It requires immediate medical attention.
Signs & Symptoms of Glaucoma
There are different signs to look for with each of the two major types of glaucoma, but in both cases, symptoms can come on without warning.
With open angle glaucoma, you may slowly notice smaller signs such as minor blind spots or the onset of tunnel vision. Angle closure glaucoma, on the other hand, has a much more rapid onset of symptoms, including blurry or distorted vision, headaches, eye pain, nausea, and sudden vision loss.
If you observe any of these things, you should seek medical attention — but vision loss from glaucoma often isn’t noticeable until potentially permanent vision loss has occurred. That’s why we work diligently to catch and treat it early with thorough medical screenings.
Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment at Alliance Vision Institute
At Alliance Vision Institute, our first goal is early detection of glaucoma, which gives us the best chance of stopping its progression. From there, we can determine the right course of treatment for your unique case of glaucoma.
Medical Treatment for Glaucoma
One of the first things we’ll recommend for glaucoma patients is ophthalmic eye drops and oral medications that are designed to decrease IOP and help the eye drain fluid better.
Laser Iridotomy & Laser Iridoplasty
Laser iridotomy and laser iridoplasty are trusted surgeries in which lasers painlessly open drainage pathways through the peripheral area of the iris, which helps to lower IOP levels.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is the use of a lower-heat “cold laser” to make microscopic holes in your eye’s drainage meshwork, allowing fluid within the eye to drain more easily.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) uses modern, often microscopic technology to safely provide long-term solutions for high IOP. There are several categories of MIGS, which use different methods based on your unique case to relieve pressure within the eye: improving natural drainage, artificially creating new drainage pathways, or implanting medication that reduces the need for glaucoma drops.
Are You a Candidate for Glaucoma Treatment?
The doctors at Alliance Vision Institute have reviewed and approved this content.
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