Glaucoma
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Glaucoma is the number-one cause of blindness in men and women over the age of 60. Because glaucoma is often symptomless, it is very important to have regular eye exams. The expert team of ophthalmologists at Des Peres Eye Center in St. Louis and Arnold, Missouri, can diagnose glaucoma in its early stages, and then provide highly effective treatments to preserve your vision. Book your appointment by phone today.
Glaucoma Q & A
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that occurs when your optic nerve, which is crucial for vision, is damaged by excessive pressure. If you suffer from glaucoma, the nerve fibers gradually deteriorate, which causes progressive vision loss starting with your peripheral vision.
What are the symptoms of glaucoma?
The symptoms of glaucoma aren’t obvious, at least at the start. The most common kind of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma (at least 90% of all cases) has a very gradual progression.
Many sufferers don’t realize they have a problem until they notice some peripheral vision loss.
That’s why comprehensive eye exams with your Des Peres Eye Center ophthalmologist are so crucial. Your ophthalmologist can detect the early warning signs of glaucoma during a comprehensive exam, which allows for early intervention and optimal vision preservation.
What is the treatment for glaucoma?
Glaucoma treatment decreases the inner-eye pressure. This, in turn, delays the nerve tissue loss and preserves your vision for as long as possible. Prescription eye drops are typically the main glaucoma treatment. Prescription eye drops reduce the pressure in your eye, as long as you use them consistently every day.
For many patients, eye drops are enough to delay glaucoma progression, but if you’re still experiencing nerve tissue loss (and the peripheral vision loss that goes along with it) your ophthalmologist at Des Peres Eye Center may recommend minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) or selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) to lower your intraocular pressure.
SLT
SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) is a safe and reliable procedure in which your ophthalmologist uses a state-of-the-art laser to stimulate drainage of your inner-eye fluid buildup. With the excess fluid gone, your intraocular pressure goes down significantly, which delays glaucoma progression.
You may need other medications for long-term glaucoma management, based on your response to eye drops, MIGS, or SLT. Your Des Peres Eye Center care providers are fully committed to helping you preserve your vision even in the face of glaucoma.
MIGS
In MIGS (Minimally-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery), your ophthalmologist implants tiny devices to relieve pressure and correct inner-eye blockages. This surgery is extremely safe and causes minimal disruption to your eyes. If you have cataracts along with glaucoma, your ophthalmologist can perform MIGS and remove cataracts at the same time.
Call Des Peres Eye Center to book your glaucoma appointment today.
