Glaucoma: Why Early Detection Matters
If your vision seems perfectly normal, you may assume your eyes are healthy. With glaucoma, however, significant changes can begin before you notice a problem.
That is one reason routine comprehensive eye examinations are so important.
Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Without appropriate monitoring and treatment, glaucoma can result in permanent vision loss.
At Specialty Eye Consultants in Reading and Wakefield, Massachusetts, we make glaucoma diagnosis and treatment central to our practice. Our team includes physicians with specialized expertise in glaucoma, laser treatment, and comprehensive ophthalmology.
Why Is Glaucoma So Difficult to Detect?
One of the challenges with glaucoma is that some of its most common forms can progress gradually.
Rather than suddenly blurring your vision, glaucoma may initially affect peripheral vision in ways that are hard to notice during everyday activities.
This means you should not wait for noticeable vision changes before having your eyes evaluated.
A comprehensive eye exam gives your eye doctor a chance to look for signs of glaucoma and decide whether additional testing or monitoring is appropriate.
Who Is at Risk for Glaucoma?
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but certain factors may increase your risk.
These include:
Increasing age
A family history of glaucoma
Elevated eye pressure
Certain medical conditions
Previous eye injuries
Certain anatomical characteristics of the eye
A previous glaucoma diagnosis or suspicious findings during an eye examination
Your individual risk profile can help your ophthalmologist decide how often to examine your eyes.
How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
Diagnosing glaucoma involves more than simply checking eye pressure.
Depending on your needs, your eye doctor may evaluate the optic nerve, measure intraocular pressure, assess peripheral vision, examine the drainage angle, and use state-of-the-art imaging to look for structural changes.
Because glaucoma can change over time, your ophthalmologist may also compare results from multiple visits.
This helps identify subtle changes and adjust treatment when needed.
Can Glaucoma Be Treated?
Although vision already lost to glaucoma generally cannot be restored, treatment can help slow or prevent additional damage.
The goal of glaucoma treatment is typically to lower pressure inside the eye to a level that reduces the risk of further optic nerve damage.
Treatment may include:
Prescription eye drops
Laser treatment
Surgical procedures
Routine monitoring
The right approach depends on the type and severity of glaucoma as well as the individual patient.
What Is Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)?
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, commonly called SLT, is a laser procedure used to lower intraocular pressure in certain patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
SLT targets the eye's natural drainage system to improve fluid outflow and lower eye pressure.
Specialty Eye Consultants has a particularly meaningful connection to this treatment. Mark A. Latina, M.D., is a glaucoma specialist and pioneer of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty.
Today, SLT is an important treatment option that ophthalmologists may consider for appropriate glaucoma patients.
Specialized Glaucoma Care Close to Home
Specialty Eye Consultants provides glaucoma evaluation and treatment for patients throughout Reading, Wakefield, North Reading, Stoneham, Melrose, Winchester, Burlington, Middlesex County, and Greater Boston.
Our team includes physicians experienced in glaucoma diagnosis, medical management, laser treatment, cataract care, and comprehensive ophthalmology.
Having availability of expert care can be especially valuable for patients who have been diagnosed with glaucoma, have elevated eye pressure, or need ongoing monitoring.
Don't Wait for Glaucoma Symptoms
One of the most important things to understand about glaucoma is simple: feeling like you can see well does not necessarily mean there isn't a problem developing.
Regular comprehensive eye examinations give your eye care team the opportunity to identify concerning changes as early as possible.
If you have a family history of glaucoma, have been told your eye pressure is elevated, or are due for a comprehensive eye examination, contact Specialty Eye Consultants to schedule an appointment.
Protecting your vision begins with knowing what is happening inside your eyes.