Glaucoma

An estimated 3 million Americans are at risk for vision loss due to glaucoma. At Vistasite Eye Care, skilled optometrist Vladimir Dvoretsky, OD, provides eye pressure screenings to identify glaucoma in the earliest stage. Through a customized treatment plan using medicated eyedrops, laser treatments, or surgery, you can better manage the pressure in your eye and lower your risk for optic nerve damage and permanent blindness. Call the office in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, to schedule a glaucoma consultation or book an appointment online today.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage your optic nerve and lead to vision loss and permanent blindness.

The damage occurs due to a buildup of fluids inside your eye that increases pressure on surrounding tissues and nerves. The fluids collect as a result of poor drainage in the eye.

The two main types of glaucoma are:

Open-angle glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of the disease. The underlying cause of this condition isn’t well understood, but your eye’s inability to drain away fluids fast enough can lead to permanent vision loss.

Angle-closure glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency that causes intense eye pain, blurry vision, and other symptoms due to a sudden increase in eye pressure. This condition develops when the outer edge of your iris prevents fluids from draining out of the front of your eye.

When should I seek medical attention for glaucoma?

If you have sudden and intense eye pain or other symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma, you should seek immediate medical attention at the nearest hospital.

With other types of glaucoma, you may not experience any symptoms until your vision is at risk. For this reason, you should schedule routine eye exams. These are opportunities for your provider to measure the pressure in your eye before complications develop.

If your exam reveals increased pressure in your eye, your provider customizes a care plan to treat the problem and protect your vision.

How is glaucoma treated?

Your treatment plan for glaucoma depends on the severity of your symptoms and the pressure levels in your eye.

Your Vistasite Eye Care provider may recommend medicated eyedrops to decrease pressure in your eye by improving fluid drainage. There are also drops that can reduce the amount of fluid your eyes produce. In some cases, you need to take oral medications to treat glaucoma.

With glaucoma, you may need to schedule more frequent eye exams, so your optometrist can assess the pressure in your eye and ensure your treatment is working. 

If eyedrops and medications aren’t effectively treating your condition, your provider discusses your options for laser treatments or surgery to improve fluid drainage.

Call Vistasite Eye Care to schedule a glaucoma screening or book an appointment online today.