Glaucoma Prevention & Treatment Calgary

Many people have glaucoma but don’t know it.

Glaucoma slowly damages the eye’s optic nerve, the vital link between the eye and the brain. People with glaucoma usually lose vision before they notice any problems with their eyes.

The most common type of glaucoma is called primary open-angle glaucoma. When fluid in the eye does not drain properly, the pressure inside the eye increases and damages the optic nerve. This form of glaucoma usually steals your side vision (peripheral vision) first, so you probably won’t notice changes in your sight right away. Over time, you’ll lose central vision and have trouble seeing.

Unfortunately, you can’t regain your vision once you lose it from glaucoma. Ophthalmologists don’t yet know how to stop glaucoma from developing in the first place. However, there are ways to prevent severe vision loss and blindness from glaucoma. Hint: Regular eye exams play a significant role in saving sight!

Glaucoma Eye Treatment Calgary

Glaucoma damage is permanent—it cannot be reversed. But medicine and eye surgery can prevent further damage. To treat glaucoma, your ophthalmologist may use one or more of the following treatments.

Medication

Glaucoma can be controlled with eye drop medicine. With everyday use, these eye drops lower eye pressure. Some do this by reducing the amount of aqueous fluid the eye makes. Others reduce pressure by helping fluid flow better through the drainage angle.

Glaucoma medications can help you keep your vision, but they may also produce side effects.

All medications can have side effects. Some drugs cause problems when taken with other medications. It is essential to give your doctor a list of every medicine you take regularly. Be sure to talk with your ophthalmologist in Calgary if you think you may have side effects from glaucoma medicine treatment.

Never change or stop taking your glaucoma medications without talking to your ophthalmologist. If you are running out of medication, ask your ophthalmologist in Calgary if you should have your prescription refilled.

Laser Eye Surgery

There are two main types of laser eye surgery to treat glaucoma. They help aqueous drain from the eye. These procedures are usually done in the ophthalmologist’s office or an outpatient surgery centre in Calgary.

• SELECTIVE LASER TRABECULOTOMY ( SLT ) is for people who have open-angle glaucoma. The eye surgeon uses a laser to make the drainage angle work better. That way, fluid flows out properly, and eye pressure is reduced.
• LASER PERIPHERAL IRODOTOMY ( LPI ) is for people who have angle-closure glaucoma. The ophthalmologist uses a laser to create a tiny hole in the iris. This hole helps fluid flow to the drainage angle.