As we age, we become more at risk for developing certain health conditions. Cataracts is one such important age-related eye condition to be on the lookout for. But you may not know that glaucoma is another sight-stealing eye condition that seniors are more at risk of developing. Because it often comes with no noticeable symptoms, many people don’t even know they have it. For this reason, glaucoma is often referred to as “the silent thief of sight”.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition associated with high fluid pressure in the eye, called intraocular pressure or IOP, that causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve. The condition affects more than three million Americans, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, and half of those don’t even know they have the disease!
Glaucoma is characterized by damage to the optic nerve that results in slow vision loss over time. When enough nerve damage has occurred, blind spots begin to develop in the field of vision. Unfortunately, most people don’t notice these blind spots until irreversible damage is done. For this reason, at Ighani Eye Care, we recommend an annual dilated comprehensive eye exam for all our patients over age 60 where we will screen for glaucoma.
There is no cure for glaucoma at this time, but we are able to control and stabilize the condition by keeping your eye pressure in a healthy range. This range is a little different for each person and is dependent on a few factors, including the severity of the condition, corneal thickness, patient age and more.
How is Glaucoma Treated?
The goal of glaucoma treatment (and there are a few!) is to lower eye pressure, preserve your current level of vision and prevent further damage. Treatment will vary, depending on the type of glaucoma diagnosed, the degree to which the condition has progressed, underlying risk factors and other variables.
Generally, prescription medicines (eye drops and oral medications), laser procedures and operative procedures can all be utilized in an attempt to stop the progression of the disease and to preserve vision.
SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty)
SLT is a kind of laser surgery that lowers intraocular pressure in the most common type of glaucoma. It is used when eye drop medications are not lowering the eye pressure enough or are causing undesirable side effects. It is sometimes used as an initial treatment in glaucoma.
MIGS (Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery)
These procedures are designed to lower eye pressure safely with a fast recovery and downtime. Instead of creating an artificial drain in the eye, they unclog the natural drainage system of the eye. Brilliant!
MIGS offers several key advantages when compared to traditional glaucoma surgery. They are minimally invasive, nonpenetrating procedures that do not create a permanent opening in the wall of the eye. Additionally, they can be performed as stand-alone procedures or at the same time as cataract surgery with similar recovery, postoperative drop regimen and restrictions of activity as cataract surgery alone.
Since cataracts and glaucoma sometimes go hand in hand, it’s a wonderful advancement that these two procedures can be performed at the same time, saving you time and money.
Our Compassionate Staff is Here for You
Dr. Brian Anding is a board-certified ophthalmologist with special interest and experience in glaucoma diagnosis and management. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Texas A&M University in College Station and attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, where he earned his medical degree in 1986 with induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. Dr. Anding completed an internship in internal medicine at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and his residency training in ophthalmology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, Arkansas. He then returned home to Texas to start his career.
Dr. Anding has more than 30 years of experience in ophthalmology but our patients appreciate him most for his dedication to patient care. Along with Ighani Eye Care founder Dr. Farshid Ighani, we believe excellent patient care starts with relationship.
Why Choose Ighani Eye Care?
More than a provider of the latest advancements in ophthalmology, our vision isn’t just about technology – it is about people. We promise to treat each person that walks through the doors of Ighani Eye Care with respect. Honor. Warmth. And each member of the team is committed to this same philosophy.
If you or someone you love needs an eye care provider in the DFW metroplex, we would be honored to serve you. And if you have concerns about aging eyes and the conditions you should look out for, please schedule an appointment today.
