Glaucoma Assessment and Treatment
Open-angle glaucoma is a relatively common disease that causes a slow and painless loss of vision. It is often called the “sneak thief of sight”. While sometimes there is a family history, there is often no cause. A small minority will have had trauma, cortisone treatment or other causes that may have contributed to the condition.
Treatment for open angle glaucoma involves reducing intraocular pressure with a combination of eye drops, laser and/or surgery.
With treatment it is usually possible to stop or slow progression of this disease. The damaged vision cannot be reversed hence early diagnosis is paramount.
At Toronto Eye Surgery, we have a high definition optical coherence tomography (Zeiss HD-OCT) that is able to detect damage to the optic nerve before vision loss occurs. The OCT is able to image the front of the eye to look for signs of angle narrowing or closure (another serious but rarer type of glaucoma).
We have a Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HFA) that is used to determine the peripheral sight loss, and its rate of progression.
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We offer selective laser trabeculoplasty as an alternative glaucoma treatment. In more advanced cases, we can offer micropulse laser that performs treatment to the ciliary body, the site of the aqueous (internal eye fluid) production, thereby reducing the intraocular pressure.
Our surgeons are skilled in the use of iStents and Xen stents for microinvasive glaucoma surgery. Where the glaucoma is particularly severe, we are able to offer a trabeculectomy (an older proven technique of intraocular pressure reduction).
Angle-closure glaucoma is a less common condition that can cause sudden loss of vision and eye pain. At Toronto Eye Surgery, we have a YAG laser that is able to prevent and treat angle-closure glaucoma. The YAG laser creates a small hole in the iris and allows fluid to escape. Where a cataract exist, removal of the cataract in this circumstance can effectively eliminate this problem.
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For frequently asked questions about glaucoma, click here.
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To find out more visit the Glaucoma Australia and the National Eye Institute websites.
