(229) 432-7012
Glaucoma is a common eye condition that can cause permanent vision loss if left untreated. At Berg Eye Group, our dedicated eye doctors have the expertise and experience to diagnose and treat glaucoma early and prevent further vision loss.
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that cause damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye. The optic nerve is responsible for sending signals from the retina at the back of the eye to the brain to form an image for you to see.
If damage occurs to the optic nerve, it cannot adequately send these signals and will cause vision loss. Furthermore, any vision loss that results from damage to the optic nerve is permanent.
In the case of glaucoma, damage to the optic nerve often occurs when there is high pressure inside the eye. Your eyes naturally create fluid on a constant basis.
As new fluid is created, the older fluid must leave the eye at a sufficient rate to maintain healthy eye pressure. In some cases, these drainage channels can become blocked. If this channel is blocked, fluid cannot leave the eye at a sufficient rate, and the pressure inside of the eye builds.
Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” due to its ability to damage vision without presenting many apparent symptoms. There are many different types of glaucoma.
The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma. In open-angle glaucoma, the pressure in the eye typically elevates despite the angle remaining grossly open.
The angle is located where your cornea and iris, the colored part of your eye, meet the sclera, which is the white part of your eye. The angle is where the drainage system of the eye resides. Open-angle glaucoma often occurs very slowly, and the damage to the vision is often so gradual that many people do not even notice it. Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when there is an acute blockage in the drainage channel preventing fluid from efficiently leaving the eye. At Berg Eye Group, our doctors commonly treat all forms of glaucoma.
At Berg Eye Group, our eye doctors are dedicated to providing you with the most advanced and comprehensive glaucoma care available. Once you are diagnosed with glaucoma, it is important to follow up with your eye doctor for eye pressure checks and routine tests to ensure treatment is working.
Your eye doctor at Berg Eye Group will monitor the progression of glaucoma and the success of treatment through various testing. These tests include Humphrey Visual Field testing, Optical Coherence Tomography imaging, and thorough examinations of the structures of your eyes.
The treatment method selected is unique to each person and depends on how advanced the glaucoma is in each case.
Medicated eye drops are often the first line of defense against glaucoma to lower eye pressure. If these drops do not seem to adequately lower your eye pressure, your eye doctor may recommend additional treatment.
Another early treatment option is a laser procedure called a Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty or SLT, which aims to lower eye pressure by applying light energy to the eye’s natural drainage pathway.
In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to increase the outflow of fluid, lower eye pressure, and preserve further vision loss. At Berg Eye Group, our eye doctors perform minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, also known as MIGS.
Compared to traditional glaucoma surgery, MIGS procedures require less recovery time, and many can be done at the same time as cataract surgery. Some of the MIGS procedures performed at Berg Eye Group are iStent, Hydrus, OMNI, ABIC, GATT, and goniotomy.
Your eye doctor at Berg Eye Group may refer you to a glaucoma specialist for further evaluation and possible surgical intervention if needed. Do you want to learn more about glaucoma or if you are at risk for the condition? Schedule an appointment at Berg Eye Group in Albany, GA, today!