Family EyeCare Center, P.C.
Optometrists & Contact Lens Specialists located in Pella, IA
Glaucoma is often called a silent thief because it can steal up to 40% of your sight before you notice its effects. But, with early detection and expert glaucoma management, you don't have to lose your vision to this disease. At Family EyeCare Center, PC, in Pella, Iowa, Kevin Jones, OD, performs glaucoma screenings and makes a diagnosis in the early stages of the disease so you can start an effective glaucoma management plan right away. Click the online booking tool or call the office for glaucoma management help now.
Glaucoma Management Q & A
Glaucoma is one of the most common eye diseases affecting Americans today. In most cases, glaucoma starts when your inner-eye fluid doesn't drain properly. The fluid then accumulates until your intraocular (eye) pressure grows too high, which can trigger optic nerve damage and eventually cause vision loss or complete blindness. The two main types of glaucoma are:
Open-angle glaucoma
In angle-closure glaucoma, which develops quite suddenly, the same angle is closed and causes a sudden intraocular pressure spike. It's a major blockage that doesn't allow fluid through at all.
Both kinds of glaucoma require treatment, but angle-closure glaucoma is an emergency requiring immediate treatment.
Dr. Jones typically considers five things before making a glaucoma diagnosis.
- Tonometry: intraocular pressure
- Ophthalmoscopy: optic nerve
- Perimetry: visual field
- Gonioscopy: angle where your iris and cornea meet
- Pachymetry: corneal thickness
Other conditions can sometimes cause high intraocular pressure, but only glaucoma causes obvious changes in all of these areas.
Eye drops are usually the first treatment for glaucoma. When used consistently, eye drops can delay the progression of glaucoma and help you retain your sight. Dr. Jones might prescribe more than one kind of eye drops, depending on your needs. Common options include:
Prostaglandins
Prostaglandin eye drops improve inner-eye fluid drainage.
Beta blockers
Beta blockers reduce inner-eye fluid production.
Alpha-adrenergic agonists
Alpha-adrenergic agonists improve inner-eye fluid drainage and also reduce the amount of eye fluid you make.
Rho khinase inhibitors
Rho khinase inhibitors increase inner-eye fluid drainage.
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors decrease the production of inner-eye fluid.
There are also eye drops that combine treatments, such as an eye drop of a beta blocker and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.
If eye drops aren't successful in managing your glaucoma, Dr. Jones may suggest treatments like implanted devices, such as iStent®, laser therapy, or surgery to lower intraocular pressure by improving fluid drainage.
For glaucoma management from a supportive and understanding optometrist, call Family EyeCare Center or book online now.