Glaucoma Testing & Management
Vision Services
Glaucoma Testing and Management
An estimated 3 million Americans have glaucoma, and half don’t even know it! Glaucoma accounts for about 12% of all cases of blindness. At eyeSMILE Vision, we understand the unique challenges of living with glaucoma. We can work together to help you control your glaucoma, minimize its impact on your life, and manage its progression so that you can enjoy a lifetime of great vision.
Most people are unaware that their optic nerve is being damaged until after glaucoma has caused significant and irreversible vision loss. There are many varieties of glaucoma. The two most common are primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and acute angle-closure glaucoma, which combined account for more than 95% of cases. Glaucoma is a lifelong condition that requires permanent management once diagnosed. POAG accounts for more than 90% of glaucoma cases and affects approximately 3 million Americans. Much less common than POAG, angle-closure glaucoma develops very quickly. It is caused by a diminutive angle between the iris and cornea, where the drainage canal is quickly clogged.
Glaucoma Diagnosis Using the Latest Technology
An essential part of managing glaucoma is understanding its depth of progression. New technologies such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and technologies like a visual field machine provide detailed information about the inner layers of the retina that are impacted by glaucoma. This information allows Dr. Jones to monitor closely the health of your eyes.
Glaucoma is not fully understood. What is known is that a rise in eye pressure can damage the optic nerve which in turn causes vision loss. However, glaucoma can also form when intraocular pressure (IOP) is normal. Glaucoma treatment is focused on controlling eye pressure and keeping it lowered. Medications are available to lower eye pressure and for most people, this management is sufficient.
When glaucoma does not respond to standard treatments, surgical methods (minimally-invasive laser surgeries) can be used to facilitate proper eye fluid drainage in order to lower pressure. Dr. Jones will evaluate and monitor your eye health and will make surgical recommendations with a Glaucoma surgeon when necessary.