What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a condition that primarily affects the optic nerve. The optic nerve transmits signal from eye to brain and damage to this leads to irreversible visual field damage. Oftentimes glaucoma is associated with high eye pressure. This condition in early stages is often asymptomatic as one often cannot feel high eye pressure and rarely is visual field constriction noticeable.
At Mile High Eye Institute our specialists have the highest level of training in Glaucoma management and are at the forefront of advancing treatments in the field. Our team will evaluate the level of glaucoma and discuss any surgical or non-surgical treatments indicated.
Types of Glaucoma
There are two main types of glaucoma that the team at Mile High Eye Institute treats:
Primary open-angle glaucoma
Primary open angle glaucoma is a lifelong condition that accounts for 90% of all glaucoma cases. Over time, the drainage system of the fluid inside the eye can become clogged. In turn, this can create an eye pressure that can damage the optic nerve. With regular eye exams, primary glaucoma may be found early and usually responds well to treatment to stop or slow down vision loss.
Closed-angle glaucoma
Closed Angle Glaucoma is when the drainage system to the eye can become partially or completely blocked. Complete blockage causes eye pressure to substantially increase and stress the optic nerve. This can be an acute or chronic condition. In the acute and active stage of angle closure patients may experience severe eye pain or headache, bloodshot eyes, and foggy vision. When angle closure is chronic, it may be asymptomatic. This condition is screened for at routine eye exams.
What Are The Symptoms of Glaucoma?
While glaucoma may not cause symptoms in its early stages, it can eventually lead to:
The best way to relieve the symptoms of glaucoma is to seek treatment right away. Without proper care, glaucoma can lead to blindness.
What Causes Glaucoma?
Glaucoma happens when the optic nerve sustains too much pressure, usually from fluid buildup. Common risk factors for glaucoma include:
The team at Mile High Eye Institute performs comprehensive eye exams to help determine your risk for glaucoma.
What Are The Treatments For Glaucoma?
Common treatments that can be performed by both our surgeons and optometrists are:
Medications
Prescription eye drops can either decrease the amount of fluid the eye produces to relieve pressure on the optic nerve or increase fluid flow through the trabecular meshwork.
Laser eye procedures
Laser eye surgery involves either opening the trabecular meshwork or creating a tiny hole in the iris to encourage fluid flow.
Surgeries
There are two major categories of glaucoma surgery. Traditional glaucoma surgeries create a new plumbing system in the eye while minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) revitalize the natural plumbing system of the eye.
