What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease of the eye that causes damage to the optic nerve.  If left untreated, the disease can destroy the optic nerve, leading to loss of vision. Severe glaucoma without treatment can result in blindness.. Glaucoma usually involves the buildup of excessive fluid pressure within the eye. Most persons who have glaucoma are above the age of 65, although glaucoma can occur at any age. If other persons in the family have glaucoma, the risk of developing glaucoma increases.

How Is Glaucoma Detected?

A thorough eye examination is necessary to diagnose glaucoma. Glaucoma is usually painless and the vision changes are difficult to detect in early cases. Close monitoring of the eye is necessary to prevent glaucoma vision damage. With proper medical care, glaucoma may be treated and controlled. An eye examination for glaucoma, including specialized testing, is the most important tool in preventing vision loss. During your exam, your doctors may determine that the Heidelberg Retinal Tomography test (HRT) and/or automated visual field testing is needed.

Heidelberg Retinal Tomographer

The Heidelberg Retinal Tomography is a system that combines a laser-scanning camera and specialized software that evaluates the optic nerve. The HRT may diagnose glaucoma years before symptoms become apparent to the patient. The HRT is especially useful at detecting small changes over time.

Optic nerve analysis with the HRT system.

Zeiss/Humphrey Automated Visual Field Analyzer

Glaucoma usually affects peripheral vision (side vision) before it damages central (reading) vision. Proper glaucoma care involves periodic analysis of the peripheral vision. At Eye Physicians, we employ the Zeiss/Humphrey visual field analyzer, which is faster and more accurate than previous tests.

How Is Glaucoma Treated?

Treatment of glaucoma can generally prevent the loss of vision. Eye drops or even medications by mouth can reduce fluid pressure within the eye.

Glaucoma laser surgery may be recommended for glaucoma treatment. Laser surgery options include: laser trabeculoplasty , which is used for treating the common form of glaucoma, and laser iridotomy, which is used to treat narrow angle glaucoma.

Glaucoma microsurgery (trabeculectomy) is used to treat glaucoma that cannot be adequately controlled with medications or laser surgery. This outpatient operation creates a small opening in the eye to prevent buildup of excess fluid pressure.

Patient Information

Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most frequent cause of vision loss among people 50 years and older If patients with certain types of AMD are to benefit from recent developments in treatment, it is important that the condition be diagnosed as early as possible.

AMD can be classified as either non-neovascular (dry) or neovascular (wet).  Dry AMD is characterized by drusen and changes in the pigmented layer of the retina. Wet AMD will have fluid and/or blood in the macular area of the retina.

Central Vision Deterioration

Most patients with severe vision loss from AMD have the neovascular (wet) form. Neovascular AMD is characterized by abnormal new blood vessels growing underneath the retina. The main symptoms of neovascular AMD are blurred vision, blind spots, and distortion of vision.

Treatment of AMD

Dry AMD

No treatment will reduce the risk of developing non-neovascular AMD and there is no treatment that can reverse the condition. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) has shown that some patients with dry AMD may benefit from supplementation with antioxidants: vitamin C 500 mg, vitamin E 400 IU, and beta carotene 15 mg and zinc (80 mg) and copper (2 mg) as cupric oxide (copper should be taken with zinc, because high-dose zinc is associated with copper deficiency).

Wet AMD

In some persons, standard argon laser photocoagulation is performed. Photodynamic therapy(PDT) may be helpful when AMD affects central vision.

How Can the Patient Treat AMD?

Antioxidant vitamin preparations are commercially available without a doctors prescription. Two excellent supplements on the market are Ocuvite-PreserVision (2 tablets twice a day) and Alcon ICaps (2 tablets twice a day). Other similar preparations are also available.

Eating extra amounts of dark green and leafy vegetables or using a supplement containing lutein may be beneficial. Consult your doctor before doing this if you take coumadin (warfarin.)

Researchers from Harvard University found that people who eat the most lutein-rich foods are 43% less likely to develop AMD. People most protected from age-related macular degeneration eat 5 or more helpings of spinach or collard greens per week. Each helping should be at least 1/2 cup cooked or raw. Another benefit of a diet rich in vegetables is a decreased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Patient Information