Glaucoma

Glaucoma is second among the leading causes of blindness worldwide. But you can avoid sight loss with early treatment. Experienced ophthalmologists Hetal Vaishnav, MD, Gary Ganiban, MD, and their colleagues at Atlantic Retina Consultants excel at diagnosing and treating glaucoma. At offices in Melbourne, Merritt Island, Palm Bay, Titusville, and Rockledge, Florida, they provide advanced treatments to reduce the pressure buildup in your eye that leads to vision loss. Call Atlantic Retina Consultants to arrange a glaucoma evaluation or schedule a consultation online today.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma most often develops in later life, although it can sometimes affect children and young adults. It causes unusually high pressure inside the eye, damaging the optic nerve and retina and creating vision blind spots. Untreated glaucoma leads almost inevitably to sight loss.

Glaucoma has two forms:

Open-angle glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma vision changes are so gradual that you’ll likely not notice them at first. Peripheral vision (what you see at the edges) usually gets worse first, then central vision. You might develop headaches and have difficulty seeing at night.

Acute closed-angle glaucoma

Acute closed-angle glaucoma might cause severe pain, blurry vision, and nausea. You might see halos around lights. Symptoms develop quickly and require urgent treatment to prevent permanent eye damage.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Many people are unaware that they have glaucoma until their eye doctor discovers it during a routine consultation. It’s vital to attend regular eye exams at Atlantic Retina Consultants after 35 — sooner if your risk is higher because of diabetes or having relatives with glaucoma.

Vision loss caused by glaucoma can’t be reversed, so an early diagnosis is crucial. This enables your eye doctor to control the condition and protect your sight.

How is glaucoma treated?

Most people manage glaucoma with eyedrops. Some glaucoma drops reduce the eye’s aqueous fluid production. Others help fluid flow more freely through the drainage angle.

If you struggle with glaucoma drops because of side effects or they don’t manage your condition well enough, Atlantic Retina Consultants might recommend other treatments. These include:

Laser therapy

Endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP) laser treatment reduces excess fluid production in your eye, lowering the pressure. The Atlantic Retina Consultants team can perform ECP during cataract surgery. Cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) uses laser energy to alter part of the eye and lower the pressure.

Stents

Stents are tiny medical implants that help fluid flow from the eyeball. They create a bypass between the natural fluid drain and the front of the eye. Gel stents the size of an eyelash are used for patients with open-angle glaucoma.

Goniotomy

Goniotomy surgery lowers eye pressure by cutting the first layer of the trabecular meshwork in your eye, which can block fluid drainage.

Trabeculectomy

Trabeculectomy surgery creates new fluid drainage pathways inside your eye.

Glaucoma shunts

During tube-shunt surgery, your eye surgeon places a plastic tube and silicone drainage pouch in your eye.

Call Atlantic Retina Consultants to book your glaucoma exam or request an appointment online today.