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Glaucoma occurs when the pressure from the fluid inside the eye is too high. This will cause optic nerve damage which then causes vision loss. Inside the eye, there is a section that makes fluid all day long, and there is a drain that allows the fluid to exit. This fluid and drain are contained completely inside the eye and not related to the tears on the surface. The causes of glaucoma may be genetic, linked to near-sightedness, far-sightedness, aging, diabetes, other eye diseases, or unknown. Vision loss in glaucoma cannot be restored. The goal of treatment is to prevent further loss of eyesight. There are 2 main types of glaucoma: closed angle and open angle. The angle is the drain. Patients can have one or both types.
Open angle glaucoma is the most common type. In this disease, the drain surface is open but pressure buildup may be due to partial obstruction further in the pipeline. There are no symptoms early on because the slow buildup of pressure cannot be felt by the patient. In the very late stages, the patient notices the extremely loss of vision. Treatment consists of medications, laser and surgery.
Closed angle glaucoma or narrow angle glaucoma is less common. In this disease, the drain surface is covered (closed) by the colored part of the eye (iris). If the drain gets covered completely, as can happen with pupil dilation from medications, darkness and excitement, the pressure rises suddenly and significantly. This causes pain, redness, blurry vision and sometimes nausea and vomiting. At this point, the patient must get to an eye doctor immediately for laser treatment. This type of glaucoma can cause sudden blindness. The treatment is laser surgery.
The Castleman Eye Center is now offering people in the Troy and Southgate areas a new, advanced test to evaluate the health of your eyes and help detect glaucoma. The Cirrus HD-OCT performs a simple, yet powerful test which helps us identify early signs of eye disease which can lead to irreversible blindness. This test is quick, completely painless and does not touch the eye. The information the Cirrus HD-OCT give the doctor can affect decisions about the need for further tests or treatment.
SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) is a relatively new, safe and simple in-office laser treatment that effectively reduces eye pressure for most patients with open angle glaucoma. The SLT mechanism of effect does not rely on medicines, instead, it uses an advanced laser system to target only specific cells of the eye—those containing melanin, a natural pigment. This allows for only these cells to be affected, leaving surrounding tissue intact. As a result, your body’s own healing response helps lower the pressure in your eye.
Selective Laser Therapy (SLT) is an advancement over other lasers that have been used in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma for more than two decades.
Benefits of SLT
Other glaucoma treatment options involve various traditional surgeries. A common surgery for open-angle glaucoma is the trabeculectomy, where a doctor creates a small flap in the sclera (white part of the eye). Underneath the surface of the sclera, the doctor creates a small reservoir, called a filtration bleb, into which aqueous fluid may drain and then be disbursed, further reducing intraocular pressure.
There are a number of treatments available for glaucoma patients. If diagnosed with glaucoma, our Troy and Southgate eye physicians will consult with you on your options in order to maintain the best possible health of your eyes.
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Troy, MI Ophthalmologist, Castleman Eye Center is dedicated to excellence in ophthalmology such as laser refractive surgery, conditions & treatments, and general eye examination. Two eye care facilities serving Southgate and Troy, Michigan.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider.