Glaucoma Treatment for Clearwater & St. Petersburg, FL

What Is Glaucoma?

At the front of the eye, between the colored iris and the cornea—the eye’s clear protective outer layer—there is a small fluid-filled area called the anterior chamber. As with blood pressure, the pressure in this chamber—called intraocular pressure or IOP—should not be too elevated. Increased pressure is called glaucoma. When this pressure gets too high, irreversible damage to the optic nerve can occur, which can result in blindness.

Causes of Glaucoma

In most cases, increased pressure results from the eye’s inability to drain fluids from the anterior chamber properly. Fluids are constantly flowing into the chamber and must be able to drain out where the cornea meets the iris at its outer edges. But when the eye’s drainage channels become clogged, glaucoma may develop. This is referred to as open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the condition.

In acute angle-closure glaucoma, abnormalities in eye structures, such as a bulging iris, blocks drainage of the fluids.

Secondary glaucoma exists when there is another health condition triggering the drainage problem, such as diabetes, a tumor, or trauma. In this case, both the glaucoma and the primary condition must be treated.

Some children are born with congenital glaucoma, which results from abnormalities that developed as the eye formed.

Glaucoma Symptoms

Perhaps the most important aspect to know about glaucoma is that it often progresses painlessly. Unfortunately, by the time glaucoma symptoms appear, the optic nerve could be irreparably damaged. Still, it’s important to know that glaucoma symptoms include:

• Blurred vision
• Intense eye pain
• Glare around lights
• Nausea and vomiting
• Light sensitivity

How Is Glaucoma Detected & Diagnosed?

There are several tests that provide a complete picture of the eye’s health. To test for glaucoma eye disease, your doctor will visually examine the optic nerve and use a special device to examine the structures at the front of the eye to evaluate its ability to drain fluids properly. Your IOP will be tested along with your peripheral vision. Through regularly scheduled eye exams, your eye doctor can detect small changes that may be the first signs of glaucoma.

How Do You Treat Glaucoma?

The most common treatment is the use of eye drops to reduce IOP. Some people may need more than one type of medicated drops. If medication fails to reduce the IOP, laser treatment for glaucoma may be needed to improve the ability of the eye to drain fluids. The goal of this procedure is to improve the eye’s drainage channels.

Cost of Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is an incurable eye disease that often requires lifelong management to prevent blindness. Treatments can be costly. A 2014 article in Glaucoma Today reported the estimated direct cost of early glaucoma treatment was about $600 per year, with end-stage glaucoma treatments costing up to $2,500 annually.

The actual price of treating glaucoma depends on the type and on your geographic location. Our office offers financing options for our Tampa Bay area patients, and insurance may cover some costs. Glaucoma treatment is also eligible for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Types of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause increased eye pressure and damage to the optic nerve. There are four primary glaucoma types, including:

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of this eye disease in nine out of 10 patients. You may not experience any symptoms until vision loss occurs, and it typically affects peripheral (side) vision first. The cause of open-angle glaucoma is unknown and happens when pressure builds inside the eye and can’t drain fast enough, increasing pressure and leading to optic nerve damage. Open-angle glaucoma will eventually cause blindness, and high blood pressure and diabetes are high-risk factors for this form.

Normal-Tension Glaucoma

This type of open-angle glaucoma is more common in people of Japanese descent or with a family history of normal-tension glaucoma and in people with heart problems and low blood pressure.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Also called narrow-angle or acute glaucoma, this form is considered a medical emergency. It’s imperative to seek medical attention if you experience the sudden onset of intense eye pain, nausea, red eye(s) and blurry vision. Closed-angle glaucoma happens when the edge of the iris blocks fluid from flowing out from the eye, creating a quick spike in eye pressure that can cause blindness in mere days. Laser treatment and medicine are required to drain the excess fluid and lower intraocular pressure.

Congenital Glaucoma

One in 10,000 children may be born with this type of glaucoma that prevents fluid from draining out of the eye normally. Infants may have cloudy eyes, excess tear production, larger eye sizes and light sensitivity. Early surgical intervention can typically avoid permanent vision loss.

Secondary glaucoma may be the result of another condition and can require special treatment.

Glaucoma Treatment Options

Your glaucoma treatment will be unique to your circumstances and may include oral medicines, prescription eye drops, laser treatment, surgery or a combination of these options. Prescription eye drops are often the first treatment method for early glaucoma and work to decrease intraocular pressure and enhance drainage from the eye. Some eye drops may lower fluid production in the eye to manage eye pressure. You may be prescribed multiple eyedrops and oral medications for optimal management.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a procedure for open-angle glaucoma and may be offered instead of eye drops or in combination with them. SLT is a relatively new glaucoma treatment that uses low-energy light in brief pulses to target the pigmented cells (cells that contain melanin) in the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular meshwork is a sponge-like tissue near the cornea that filters the fluid out of the eye and is the area of greatest resistance for drainage.

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgeries (MIGS)

These are a group of procedures that are less invasive than traditional glaucoma surgeries and work to lower eye pressure and protect the optic nerve. MIGS mitigates many of the risks of standard glaucoma surgery and could be a good option for mild to moderate cases.

These procedures include microtrabeculectomy, trabecular surgery, suprachoroidal shunts and fluid-reduction surgeries. MIGS may not prevent the need for traditional glaucoma surgery later on but provides a surgical option for people who previously had to wait for the disease to progress to qualify for invasive treatment.

Laser Iridotomy

Laser iridotomy is the first-line treatment for angle-closure glaucoma. It’s used as a preventive measure for eyes at risk of vision loss from the sudden spike in intraocular pressure. The procedure creates a hole outside the iris to widen the drainage angle between the cornea and iris to expose the trabecular meshwork and restore proper drainage. Laser iridotomy can preserve your remaining vision and halt disease progression but does not work for all cases and may require further laser surgery and treatment.

Filtration Surgery

Filtration surgery is an option for open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma and can dramatically decrease eye pressure to save your remaining vision. The procedure makes a small channel to improve fluid outflow using microsurgical equipment. An opening in the sclera (white portion of the eye) allows fluid drainage to bypass the trabecular meshwork, and the hole is covered by a flap that controls outflow. The draining fluid collects in a small blister called a bleb and is absorbed by the blood vessels under the upper eyelid.

Filtration surgery has a high success rate, but some patients require additional surgery and treatment to maintain results or lower eye pressure even further.

Glaucoma Treatment at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute

Since our founding in 1961, we have performed successful glaucoma surgery on thousands of patients with different forms of the condition. Our doctors are experts in laser treatment for glaucoma. Furthermore, our leading-edge use of vision technology has earned us an Alcon Center of Excellence award every year since our founding. For a new focus on life that includes comprehensive glaucoma prevention and treatment, contact St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute. We’re committed to offering the highest standard of patient care to our patients in Largo and other Tampa Bay communities.