Glaucoma is a serious condition that can cause blindness if left untreated. At Shreveport Eye Clinic, we provide comprehensive testing and treatment for glaucoma. If this condition is diagnosed before it becomes advanced, we can administer treatment that can save a patient’s vision.

Glaucoma is a buildup of fluid inside the eye. This clear fluid, which is called the aqueous humor, is meant to provide nourishment for the cornea. The fluid also helps the eyeball maintain its shape and appropriate firmness. The aqueous humor refreshes itself regularly and is drained out of the eyeball through a meshwork in the eye. When this fluid fails to drain properly, pressure inside the eye can damage the optic nerve, leading to loss of vision.

Damage to the eye is permanent, as is any associated loss of vision.However, many cases of glaucoma can be treated with medication. For patients who do not respond properly to medications, surgery may be required.

There are many types of glaucoma but we generally see angle-closure glaucoma and open-angle glaucoma. In its early stages, open-angle glaucoma is undetectable by the patient. The only way to tell that you have open-angle glaucoma is to get a diagnosis from a qualified eye doctor. For patients with angle-closure glaucoma, some symptoms may be noticeable, including:

• Blurry vision
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headaches
• Rainbow auras around lights

Glaucoma surgery is typically viewed as a last resort. At Shreveport Eye Clinic, we prescribe glaucoma eye drops that can help control the condition and prevent damage. If required, however, there are a variety of surgical procedures that can help drain the fluid from the eyes.

• Laser Trabeculoplasty: This procedure opens the drainage area, allowing fluid to drain more quickly from the eye.
• Laser Peripheral Iridotomy: This procedure is a standard treatment in closed-angle glaucoma. A hole is created in the outer edge of the iris to enhance outflow of fluid.
• Surgical Trabeculectomy: This procedure helps control pressure in the eye by creating a hole in the eyewall. The hole is covered by a trap door that prevents the fluid from draining too quickly.
• Molteno® Valve Placement: Amolteno valve is a drainage device that is placed in the eye to give fluid a new way of exiting the eye.

The best way to catch glaucoma in its early stages is to see the eye doctor on an annual basis. During comprehensive eye exams, we check patients for serious conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and other issues.