Our well-educated doctors at Glaucoma Consultants of St. Louis will explain all aspects of your treatment so you not only know what to expect, but can rest easy knowing you are getting the best
glaucoma eye care in Chesterfield. After cataracts, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Caused by a number of different eye problems, glaucoma results in gradual vision loss due to damage to your optic nerve. Even though high eye pressure is a risk factor for glaucoma, glaucoma may also occur in the presence of normal eye pressure.
The two main types of glaucoma in adults are primary open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form and occurs when the pressure inside your eye rises due to a backup of fluid. Over time, as the pressure builds up, it damages your optic nerve and results in permanent and irreversible vision loss. Closed-angle glaucoma is more rare and occurs when the drainage canals of your eye get blocked causing a rapid increase in pressure inside your eye.
According to research at The Cornea and Contact Lens Institute, individuals at high risk for glaucoma should have a dilated pupil eye examination at least every two years. As part of our glaucoma eye care in Chesterfield, our doctors will use several diagnostic tests to detect glaucoma and these tests are much more thorough and reliable than what is known as a glaucoma screening. Eye drops, laser eye surgery and specific surgical operations are performed in order to prevent, or slow, further damage from occurring. With all types of glaucoma, however, regular exams are very important to prevent any loss of vision. Because glaucoma can worsen without you being aware of it, your treatment may need to be changed over time. One treatment that often controls glaucoma is the use of eye drops. These medicated eye drops decrease eye pressure outflow by slowing the production of ‘aqueous’ fluids within your eye. For these medications to work, you must use them regularly and continuously.
Another treatment as part of our glaucoma eye care in Chesterfield, is laser surgery. The surgery is performed in one of two ways depending on the type of glaucoma you have. With open-angle glaucoma, the drain itself is treated. The laser is used to modify the drain, helping to control eye pressure. In angle-closure glaucoma, the laser creates a hole in your iris which improves the flow of aqueous fluid to the drain.
224 South Woods Mill Road, Suite 700 South
Chesterfield, Missouri 63017
Phone: (314) 219-1902
By Glaucoma Consultants of St. Louis
September 30, 2014
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