Glaucoma

Glaucoma is believed to be a genetic disease and it may not appear until later in your life. It most commonly occurs when the normal drainage flow of eye fluid is blocked, which increases pressure in your eye.

Besides hereditary factors, glaucoma can also be caused by trauma, inflammatory eye conditions, or other causes. There’s also a known relationship between diabetes, nearsightedness and open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma).

Glaucoma is usually managed with eye drops, and vision loss can be slowed or prevented, but early detection is vital. Alternative treatments, such as iDose® TR and Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery are an excellent alternative to the use of eye drops, especially if you need to use more than one drop or if you are not able to consistently use your eye drops. In more severe cases, glaucoma shunt procedures or filtering blebs are needed. NVISION has multiple surgeons who specialize in the surgical treatment of glaucoma.

There are several types of glaucoma. The most common are open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, and normal-tension glaucoma. Although they develop differently, all of them can damage the optic nerve and lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.

In open-angle glaucoma, the eye’s drainage angle stays open, but the drainage system gradually becomes less efficient. In narrow-angle glaucoma, the drainage angle becomes crowded or blocked. Narrow angles can sometimes cause a sudden rise in eye pressure, which makes early detection especially important.

Ocular hypertension means the pressure inside your eye is higher than normal, but there is no sign of damage to the optic nerve. Not everyone with high eye pressure develops glaucoma, but these patients should be monitored closely because their risk is higher.

Normal-tension glaucoma is a form of glaucoma in which the optic nerve is damaged even though eye pressure is within the normal range.

Glaucoma is diagnosed with a comprehensive eye exam that includes measuring eye pressure, examining the optic nerve, and specialized tests such as OCT imaging and visual field testing. We also evaluate the eye’s drainage angle and run other tests that help determine your level of risk.

A visual field test measures your side (peripheral) and central vision to find areas of vision loss that may be caused by glaucoma. It’s one of our most important tools for detecting glaucoma and tracking whether it is getting worse over time.

Risk factors include older age, a family history of glaucoma, high eye pressure, and certain racial or ethnic backgrounds. African Americans are at greater risk for primary open-angle glaucoma, while people of Asian ancestry have a higher risk of certain forms of angle-closure glaucoma.

We generally recommend a baseline comprehensive eye exam by age 40, although people with a family history of glaucoma or other risk factors may need to be checked earlier. Because glaucoma often develops without noticeable symptoms, regular eye exams are essential for catching it early.

They can. Diabetes is linked to a higher risk of glaucoma, and high blood pressure may also play a role. Good blood flow to the optic nerve is important, so managing your overall heart and blood vessel health is helpful alongside regular eye exams.