Glaucoma Treatment and Screenings
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight – indeed it is often referred to as the "silent thief of sight," because most types typically cause no pain or symptoms. Nonetheless, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, after cataracts, and experts estimate that half of the people affected by glaucoma may not know they have it.
Glaucoma results in vision loss because of damage to the optic nerve. This nerve is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain. It was once thought that high pressure within the eye, also known as intraocular pressure or IOP was the main cause of the optic nerve damage. Although IOP is clearly a risk factor, it is now thought that other factors must also be involved because even people with normal levels of pressure can suffer vision loss from glaucoma.
Since there are often no symptom, glaucoma often progresses undetected until the optic nerve already has been significantly and irreversibly damaged, with varying degrees of permanent vision loss. Consequently, early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease, and NY Laser Group is dedicated to early and thorough glaucoma screening.
In addition to visual field testing and measurement of intraocular pressure, we at NY Laser Group also monitor for glaucoma with the latest imaging devices of the eye's optic nerve and internal structures (scanning laser polarimetry (GDx VCC), optical coherence tomography (OCT III), and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (HRT II). With these advanced diagnostic testing modalities, we can detect glaucoma at it earliest stages and minimize vision loss. Additionally, these tests establish a precise baseline measurement of the patient’s optic nerve, which can be reviewed and compared to future tests to detect any changes.
Types of Glaucoma.
Adult glaucoma broadly falls into two categories: Open Angle Glaucoma and Closed Angle Glaucoma.
Open Angle Glaucoma is the most common form, affecting about 3 million Americans. It occurs when the eye’s drainage canals become clogged over time. The inner eye pressure (IOP) rises because fluid cannot drain adequately out of the eye. Typically with open angle glaucoma, the entrances to the drainage canals are clear and work properly—the clogging problem occurs further inside the drainage canals (similar to a clogged pipe below the drain in a sink).
Most people with open angle glaucoma have no symptoms and no early warning signs—this type of glaucoma develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable sight loss for many years. There is no cure for this type of glaucoma, however, it usually responds well to medication, especially if caught early.
Closed Angle Glaucoma
This type of glaucoma is also known as acute or narrow angle glaucoma. It is much more rare than open angle glaucoma and differs in that the eye pressure usually rises very quickly. This happens when the drainage canals become blocked or covered over (like a sink with something covering the drain), trapping excess fluid in the eye.
With closed angle glaucoma, the iris is not as wide and open as it should be. A simple test can be used to see if your angle is normal and wide, or abnormal and narrow. If it is narrow, a surgical procedure can eliminate the problem, unblocking the drainage canals so that the excess fluid can drain. For this type of glaucoma, surgery is usually successful and long lasting.
There is no cure for open angle glaucoma, the most common kind. However, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. We at NY Laser Group are committed to early detection and halting the progression of glaucoma.
