Glaucoma: Medical and Surgical Treatment
Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive, disease of the optic nerve. Over 3 million Americans are affected by glaucoma, and there is no known cure (yet!) for glaucoma. An estimated 50% of cases are undetected, and because there are rarely any presenting symptoms to patients, it is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide.
Once damage to the optic nerve from glaucoma occurs, it is permanent. Just like in other central nerve injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, injury to the optic nerve from glaucoma is irreversible. The mainstay approach to glaucoma management is early diagnosis and treatment in order to lower the overall risk of lifetime progression.
Because the progression of glaucoma is related to elevated intraocular pressure of the eye, current treatments are aimed at lowering eye pressure.
More facts about glaucoma can be found here.
A core mission of our eye physicians is early detection and early treatment of glaucoma, with the end goal of preventing the progression of uncontrolled glaucoma and blindness.
What makes us unique is our wide breadth of expertise in the latest glaucoma treatments, so that we may tailor our treatment approach for each individual patient, and overcome this challenging and lifelong disease. Read below to find out more.
Medical Treatment of Glaucoma
Eye drops administered 1-3 times daily throughout the day to control eye pressure.
Laser Treatment of Glaucoma
In-office laser treatment is used to control eye pressure in open angle glaucomas. For many, glaucoma laser treatment is potentially an excellent first-line therapy for those who do not desire the daily burden of multiple eye drops, who have arthritis or tremors making the administration of eye drops difficult, who have transportation or financial needs which make purchasing eye drops at the pharmacy difficult, or who simply desire a medication-free life.
Other types of glaucoma lasers can also treat and prevent a type of devastating eye emergency called an acute angle closure glaucoma attack.
Traditional Incisional Glaucoma Surgery
Traditional Incisional Surgery: a more invasive and relatively aggressive approach toward treating glaucoma that has been used for decades to control eye pressure. Although Traditional surgery has a generally acceptable risk profile, because of its relatively higher risk that minimally invasive approaches, Traditional surgery is used in late or particularly stubborn cases of glaucoma.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
Minimally Invasive Surgery is the latest generation of glaucoma surgery, combining high effectiveness and high safety profile. With its increased safety profile, MIGS is positioned well to allow for early intervention in the glaucoma disease process and to prevent the progression toward end stage disease and blindness, or reduce the need for more invasive types of glaucoma surgery
MIGS may be performed as a standalone procedure or in conjunction with cataract extraction surgery.
Our Surgical Armamentarium in the Fight Against Glaucoma:
XEN Gel Stent
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: a gel stent placed in the anterior chamber in order to direct aqueous outflow into a subconjunctival or a subtenons reservoir (known as a bleb) in order to reduce eye pressure
OMNI Surgical System
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: combining canaloplasty (dilation and flushing of the Canal of Schlemm) and goniotomy (trabecular meshwork bypass) into one procedure in order to increase the efficiency of aqueous outflow and reduce eye pressure
Iantrek AlloFlo
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: AlloFlo™ is a Bio-Interventional solution designed for high precision ab-interno homologous structural reinforcement. AlloFlo can be used to enhance a cyclodialysis uveoscleral outflow channel, a sclerostomy, an over-filtering trabecular flap, an optic disc pit, or other internal endoscleral structures.
Durysta Intracameral Implant
Sustained Release Implant: Durysta is an intraocular implant used to treat open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension (high eye pressure). It is a small, dissolvable implant that releases the medication bimatoprost directly into the eye. It can be administered in the office or surgical setting.
Hydrus Microstent
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: Hydrus Microstent is a trabecular meshwork bypass stent in order to increase the efficiency of aqueous outflow and reduce eye pressure
iStent Inject W Microstent
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: iStent Inject microstent is a trabecular meshwork bypass stent in order to increase the efficiency of aqueous outflow and reduce eye pressure
iStent Infinite Microstent
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: iStent infinite is a series of up to three micro-invasive implants that reduces pressure in the eye for patients with glaucoma. It's a stand-alone device that can be implanted in the eye without cataract surgery.
iDose TR Implant
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: iDose TR is a titanium implant that's used to treat glaucoma and high eye pressure. It's a prescription drug that's implanted into the eye to lower intraocular pressure.
Micropulse Cyclophotocoagulation
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: a cyclodestructive laser procedure that reduces the production of aqueous fluid in order to reduce eye pressure
Trabectome
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: a destructive trabecular meshwork bypass procedure in order to increase the efficiency of aqueous outflow and reduce eye pressure
Ahmed Glaucoma Implant
Traditional glaucoma surgery: a valved tube that is inserted to the anterior chamber in order to improve aqueous outflow and reduce eye pressure
Baerveldt Glaucoma Implant
Traditional glaucoma surgery: a valveless tube that is inserted to the anterior chamber in order to improve aqueous outflow and reduce eye pressure