Glaucoma | San Gabriel Valley Eye Group

Glaucoma: Medical and Surgical Treatment

Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive, disease of the optic nerve. Over 3 million Americans are affected by glaucoma, and there is no known cure (yet!) for glaucoma. An estimated 50% of cases are undetected, and because there are rarely any presenting symptoms to patients, it is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide.

Glaucoma can be devastating because once damage to the optic nerve from glaucoma occurs, it is permanent. Just like in spinal cord injuries, injury to the optic nerve from glaucoma is irreversible. The mainstay approach to glaucoma management is early diagnosis and treatment in order to lower the overall risk of lifetime progression.

Because the progression of glaucoma is related to elevated intraocular pressure of the eye, current treatments are aimed at lowering eye pressure.

More facts about glaucoma can be found here.

A core mission of our eye physicians is early detection and early treatment of glaucoma, with the end goal of preventing the progression of uncontrolled glaucoma and blindness.

What makes us unique is our wide breadth of expertise in the latest glaucoma treatments, so that we may tailor our treatment approach for each individual patient, and overcome this challenging and lifelong disease. Read below to find out more.

Medical Treatment of Glaucoma

Eye drops administered throughout the day to control eye pressure. Usually a first line treatment.

Laser Treatment of Glaucoma

In-office laser treatment is used to control eye pressure in open angle glaucomas. For many, glaucoma laser treatment is potentially an excellent first-line therapy for those who do not desire the daily burden of multiple eye drops, who have arthritis or tremors making the administration of eye drops difficult, who have transportation or financial needs which make purchasing eye drops at the pharmacy difficult, or who simply desire a medication-free life.

Other types of glaucoma lasers can also treat and prevent a type of devastating eye emergency called an acute angle closure glaucoma attack.

Traditional Incisional Glaucoma Surgery

Traditional Incisional Surgery: a more invasive and relatively aggressive approach toward treating glaucoma that has been used for decades to control eye pressure. Traditional surgery has a higher, though generally acceptable, risk profile and is used in late or particularly stubborn cases of glaucoma.

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)

Minimally Invasive Surgery: glaucoma surgery performed with increased safety profile compared to traditional glaucoma surgery. With its increased safety profile, MIGS is positioned well to allow for early intervention in the glaucoma disease process and to prevent the progression toward end stage disease and blindness, or reduce the need for more invasive types of glaucoma surgery

MIGS may be performed as a standalone procedure or in conjunction with cataract extraction surgery.