Glaucoma Care & Surgery

Piedmont Eye Associates provide patients in the Spartanburg, SC area with a comprehensive level of eye care in an environment geared towards quality patient service. The ophthalmologists at Piedmont are compassionate about preserving patients vision by treating numerous eye conditions like glaucoma. Not sure want to keep this?

Definition of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve, which is the second pair of cranial nerves. These nerves are responsible for sending impulses from the retina at the back of the eye to the brain. An optimally functioning optic nerve is vital for a person to have good vision. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Once the condition causes vision loss, the damage is irreversible. When an optometrist catches the condition early, the progression of vision loss can be slowed or stopped. Getting regular eye exams that include a measure of eye pressure may detect glaucoma. Therefore, it’s important to have regular eye exams that include measurements of your eye pressure.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

The symptoms of glaucoma are dependent upon the type and stage of a patient’s particular condition. For example, people with open-angle glaucoma may experience patchy blind spots in their central or peripheral vision. Open-angle glaucoma will cause tunnel vision in its advanced stages. It oftentimes affects both eyes. The other form of glaucoma – acute angle-closure glaucoma – causes severe headaches and eye pain. Some people even experience nausea and vomiting. This form of glaucoma will cause blurred vision. The person may even see halos around lights. Additionally, the eye may appear red on the outside.

Vision loss occurs from glaucoma. Even when a person seeks out treatment for the eye condition, approximately 15 percent of individuals with this condition will become blind in one or both eyes within 20 years.

Glaucoma Treatment Optometrists at Piedmont Use

The first step ophthalmologists take is to detect the problem through a comprehensive eye exam. Treatment for glaucoma centers around decreasing the amount of eye pressure. Eye drops serve two purposes: either to improve how fluid drains from the eyes or to decrease the amount of fluid produced by the eye.

Prostaglandins increase fluid output from the eye and ultimately reduce pressure in the eye. Beta blockers reduce the amount of fluid produced by the eye. Alpha-adrenergic agonists decrease the production of fluid while carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, although used in rare cases, may reduce the production of fluid in the eye. Miotic or cholinergic agents increase the amount of fluid released from the eye. An oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor may bring down the amount of pressure in the eye when eye drops aren’t enough.

Surgery for Glaucoma

Laser therapy helps those who have open-angle glaucoma. Using a laser beam, a surgeon will open the clogged channels. A surgeon may opt to do a filtering surgery, which consists of opening the white of the eye and removing the trabecular meshwork. An eye surgeon may recommend adding drainage tubes into the eye. During electrocautery, a surgeon will remove the tissue of the trabecular meshwork.

To learn more about glaucoma treatment options or to schedule an appointment, contact Piedmont Eye Associates at 864-583-5312.