Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, often related to increases in pressure inside the eye. This increase in pressure can often damage or destroy the optic nerve. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause irreversible damage and even blindness.

Patients are often unaware of any symptoms, making it important for their pressures to be checked regularly during a comprehensive eye exam. This is a simple, painless test.

Glaucoma is treated by reducing and controlling the pressure inside the eye. This may be done through the use of eye medications (drops), the use of lasers or, in some cases, using more advanced surgery to improve the eye's drainage system. Regardless of the method of treatment, it is very important for patients to have their pressures monitored regularly.

Types of Glaucoma

Marshall Health is home to the region’s only fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist. We use the latest diagnostic equipment for evaluation and treating all four types of glaucoma.

• Congenital Glaucoma - Occurs at birth or shortly after resulting from a defect in the eye's drainage system.
• Primary Open Angle Glaucoma - Usually occurs in persons over forty. (most common form)
• Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma - Sudden onset resulting in a complete blockage of drainage. (primary narrow-angle closure)
• Secondary Glaucoma - Occurs as a result from some other health problem. May develop rapidly or slowly.

Glaucoma evaluations

Marshall Eye Surgeons uses the latest diagnostic equipment for glaucoma evaluations including the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) and automated Humphrey visual fields. Corneal thickness measurements are used to correct tonometry readings. The HRT images the optic nerve in three dimensions and provides objective measures of the nerve over time.

Lasers for glaucoma

Marshall Eye Surgeons uses three distinct lasers for treatment of glaucoma:

• Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT)
• Argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT)
• YAG