Glaucoma is a disease that damages the eye’s optic nerve. It happens when fluid builds up in the front of the eye, causing pressure to damage the nerve. It is a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. Since glaucoma is often painless and gradual in onset, it is commonly detected during a routine eye exam.
Unfortunately, once damage to the optic nerve has occurred it can rarely be reversed. Glaucoma-related blindness presents initially as blind spots on the periphery.
Many people do not notice these blind spots until they affect the central field of vision. Usually by this time the glaucoma is quite advanced and much vision is lost. For this reason regular eye exams are important, even in people with clear vision.
Treatment Options
Medication
The pressure on the optic nerve can be controlled with medication. A variety of drops and pills may either decrease fluid production or increase drainage rate. Medication will not cure glaucoma and will likely be needed on an ongoing basis.
Laser Surgery
If medication is not enough to control the advance of glaucoma, or if medications are not tolerable, our office can perform what is known as a Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT). In under 5 minutes, with no anesthesia, a painless laser can clear cellular debris from the eye’s drainage system. This clearing of cellular debris will lead to increased fluid leaving the eye and lower pressures.
Glaucoma Surgery
In some cases medication and laser surgery are not sufficient, and a more involved surgery is required. Our office performs a surgery known as a Xen Gel Stent. This stent is creates a permanent channel to remove excess fluid within the eye. Please view the following video for more information.
Our office is one of the first in the area to bring the XEN Gel Stent to Livingston County. The XEN Gel Stent is known as a MIGS (Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery) due to it’s limited recovery time. Many patients are able to manage their glaucoma with no drops after the procedure. Please refer to the manufacturers website for more information