Treatments

Generally, damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. Glaucoma treatments include medicines, laser trabeculaoplasty, conventional surgery, or a combination of any of these. While these treatments may save remaining vision, they do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma.

If you are found to have glaucoma, you will probably be treated with medication in the form of eye drops or pills. The medication works to reduce pressure by decreasing the amount of fluid entering your eye or assisting fluid flow through your eye.

In some cases, your medication may produce side effects such as blurred vision or occasional headaches; the eye drops may redden your eye or sting, and your night vision may be reduced. Most of these simple side effects lessen over time; however if you experience more serious side effects such as drowsiness, tingling of fingers and toes, loss of appetite or changes in pulse, heart rate and breathing, you should notify your Eye Centers of Florida physician.

In cases where medication cannot be tolerated or loses its effectiveness over time, surgery is necessary to prevent further vision loss. Traditionally, surgery meant making incisions in the iris and drainage system to reduce pressure.

Today, at Eye Centers of Florida, patients have access to the tunable dye laser, a revolutionary method for reducing pressure without the need for cutting into eye tissue. Benefits to our patients include convenience, since this is a comparatively simple office procedure, reduced discomfort and more rapid recovery than with traditional surgical techniques.

Other glaucoma treatment options that are effective at controlling the disease include:

• AquaFlow
• ECP
• MLT
• Ex-PRESS Mini Shunt

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