Glaucoma is an umbrella term for a set of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve, which has the important job of transmitting visual stimuli to the brain. If not treated early enough, glaucoma can lead to vision loss and/or complete blindness. It is almost always caused by increased pressure within the eye from built-up fluid.
Glaucoma Treatment Minneapolis
CAROLINE • VISION CORRECTION PATIENT
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Why Chu Vision for Your Glaucoma Treatment?
- Dr. Chu has decades of glaucoma treatment experience
- Chu Vision offers the fullest spectrum of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) including:
ABOUT GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma predominantly impacts people over 60 years of age. Right now, about two million individuals in the U.S. have glaucoma, many of whom are undiagnosed. In the beginning, glaucoma doesn’t have any obvious symptoms and is often referred to as the “silent thief.” While a cure has not been found for glaucoma, it may be slowed via early detection and the most effective treatments.
Conditions like glaucoma are an important reason why undergoing comprehensive eye exams at least every two years is imperative to your total ocular health. At Chu Vision Institute, board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Ralph Chu uses state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies and is widely knowledgeable about the most innovative management methods. If you are over 40 years old, contact us in Minneapolis, MN to schedule your exam and get in control of managing your eye health.
SYMPTOMS OF GLAUCOMA
The many types and stages of glaucoma generally have no symptoms at their onsets. However, each kind could also present one or more symptoms that could be minor to severe. When glaucoma begins to worsen, patients often first notice issues, like reduced peripheral vision, blurred vision, eye strain, and eye redness. As the condition progresses, symptoms may include pronounced glare, extremely reduced peripheral vision, vomiting, and sore eyes. As glaucoma doesn’t usually have any symptoms at first, having frequent comprehensive eye exams is crucial to catch it early enough to control vision impairment.
WHAT CAUSES GLAUCOMA?
All cases of glaucoma are caused by injury to the optic nerve. Almost always, this damage is the result of high intraocular pressure from problems with eye fluid drainage. In properly functioning eyes, the fluid essential to the eye tissue can easily flow from one area to another through a special tissue, the trabecular meshwork, which supports the area between the iris and the cornea. In some cases, this drainage is blocked or extremely slow, which leads to fluid retention.
The two main types of glaucoma are categorized based on the state of the trabecular meshwork and the degree of the angle between the cornea and iris. When the fluid buildup is caused by a problem within the trabecular meshwork, it is referred to as open-angle glaucoma. However, if the retention is caused by the pathway between the cornea and iris being too tight or blocked, this is known as narrow- or closed-angle glaucoma. Scientific studies have shown that glaucoma caused by intraocular pressure is often inherited.
Beyond genes and the aging process, more factors that could increase internal eye pressure include long-term use of corticosteroid eye drops, having abnormally thin corneal tissue, and having certain health conditions, including diabetes. However, glaucoma can be the result of problems other than eye pressure. When this happens, it is called secondary glaucoma, as it is the result of a separate, preexisting condition.
HOW IS GLAUCOMA DIAGNOSED?
Dr. Chu performs multiple tests to determine if someone has glaucoma. All of the tests are quick and comfortable. First, he will dilate the pupils and possibly numb the eyes with no-sting eye drops before he begins performing the tests. Usually, these will include calculating the intraocular pressure (tonometry) and the thickness of the cornea (pachymetry), measuring the size of the angle between the cornea and iris (gonioscopy), evaluating and digitally imaging the condition of the optic nerve, checking the patient’s field of side (peripheral) vision, and testing for any spots of blindness.
GLAUCOMA MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
If a diagnosis of glaucoma is established, there are numerous techniques patients can choose from to effectively manage the condition. All of these techniques focus on decreasing internal eye pressure to avoid further trauma to the optical nerve. Most people who are in the very early stages of glaucoma can often hinder or interrupt their vision loss by controlling glaucoma with special eye drops.
For individuals whose disease has progressed further, more involved treatments, such as MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery), laser surgeries, and traditional glaucoma surgery, may ease the condition a great deal. Whether we provide these procedures or need to refer the patient to a specialist, the Chu Vision Institute team is committed to establishing the best answers for our patients’ personalized ocular healthcare.
Schedule your glaucoma evaluation now!
Common Questions About Glaucoma
What are the first signs that glaucoma is developing?
Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by glaucoma, although many of them are not aware of their condition. Glaucoma cannot currently be cured, but if it is found early enough, there are treatments available. Different forms of glaucoma have different warning signals, and occasionally there are none at all, especially in open-angle glaucoma, which is the most prevalent form of the condition.
However, you should get prompt care if you encounter any of the following signs:
- Loss of side or peripheral vision: This is frequently the initial glaucoma sign.
- Halos around lights: Glaucoma may be present if you notice rainbow-colored circles around lights or are extremely sensitive to light.
- Loss of vision: Especially when it occurs unexpectedly.
- Redness in the eye: This condition, which is occasionally accompanied by pain, could indicate an injury, an infection, or acute glaucoma.
- Eye that appears foggy: The most typical early symptom of childhood glaucoma is a cornea that looks cloudy.
- Vomiting or nausea: Particularly when it comes together with excruciating eye pain.
- Head and eye pain: Angle-closure glaucoma, a form of the disease that can develop quickly, frequently causes eye and head pain.
- Tunnel vision: You may begin to lose vision at the margins of your visual field if you have tunnel vision.
Even though the majority of glaucoma types cannot be prevented, early detection and continuing eye health monitoring can reduce the amount of vision loss brought on by the condition. Call Chu Vision Institute in Minneapolis to make an appointment if you think you might have glaucoma or if it’s time for an eye exam.
Can glaucoma be cured?
Glaucoma can’t be cured, and the damage is irreversible. However, if you discover the condition in its early stages by keeping up with routine exams, treatment can help slow or prevent vision loss.
In order to treat glaucoma, intraocular pressure must be decreased. Prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser therapy, surgery, or a combination of methods are all available as treatment options.
Will I go blind if I have glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a serious, chronic eye condition that, if left untreated, can cause vision loss. However, glaucoma generally does not result in blindness. Because there are various options available to assist prevent glaucoma from further harming your eyes, glaucoma can be controlled with modern treatment. Treatment can stop future vision loss from happening, but it cannot undo damage that has already been done.
How is early stage glaucoma treated?
Prescription eye drops are frequently the first step in glaucoma treatment. Some may lower eye pressure by enhancing the eye’s ability to drain fluid. Others lessen the fluid production in your eye. You could require more than one eye drop, depending on how low your eye pressure needs to be. Your eye pressure may not decrease to the appropriate level with just eye drops so, your eye doctor might also recommend using oral medication.
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Chu Vision Institute
9117 Lyndale Ave S
Bloomington, MN 55420
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(952) 243-2620
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