Glaucoma

Diagram illustrating pressures exerted by glaucoma

At Stahl Eyecare Experts, we have the latest instruments used to detect glaucoma and offer a variety of treatment options for our glaucoma patients. Our physicians will help decide which treatment (medicine, laser treatment or glaucoma surgery) is best for you. We are proud to offer the selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedure for qualified patients. This advanced laser therapy uses very low levels of safe laser energy to increase the outflow of fluid in patients with open angle glaucoma. The procedure is painless and takes minutes to perform. Because it is extremely effective, we are able to decrease the number of glaucoma medications and in some cases eliminate them entirely. Please ask our physicians if you are a candidate for this exciting technology.

The Silent Thief Of Sight

It is estimated that glaucoma is threatening the vision of two out of every hundred persons age 35 and over. Glaucoma can result in blindness and is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States today. We refer to glaucoma as the “silent thief” because glaucoma typically has no symptoms until partial vision loss has occurred. Loss of vision due to glaucoma is irreversible.

Early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma may prevent blindness and loss of vision. For this reason, it is important that persons over age 35 undergo an eye examination at least every 2 years, and persons with a family history of glaucoma may need more frequent examinations.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is defined as vision loss and optic nerve damage resulting from elevated eye pressure. The optic nerve is comprised of millions of nerve bundles which transmit light images to the brain where they are translated into what we know as sight. When the eye pressure is high, these nerve bundles are damaged and blind spots in areas of vision develop. With early glaucoma, these blind spots occur in the side (peripheral) vision and go undetected. Typically, there is no pain associated with the most common form of glaucoma. If the pressure inside the eye goes unchecked for a period of time, the damage increases and becomes permanent, and blindness results.

Glaucoma And Your Blood Pressure

Patients often ask: “If my blood pressure rises, will my eye pressure also rise?” The answer is no. The drainage of aqueous humor from the eye functions independently of the body’s vascular/circulatory system. Good control of blood pressure does not mean good glaucoma control.

The 4 types of Glaucoma

The aqueous humor is a clear, transparent liquid that continually circulates throughout the eye. When this circulation becomes restricted for one reason or another, pressure inside the eye begins to rise. Typically, there are four general types of glaucoma:

  • Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma

    Chronic open angle glaucoma is by far the most common type. It occurs when the exit of aqueous humor from the eye is restricted by inadequate drainage. Chronic open angle glaucoma develops slowly over a long period of time and results in the quiet loss of vision, because no symptoms occur until the optic nerve is extensively and permanently damaged.

  • Angle Closure Glaucoma

    Angle closure glaucoma occurs if the drainage system in front of the eye (the angle between the iris and cornea) is narrow or completely occluded, blocking the drainage of fluid. The eye pressure may rise suddenly (acute angle closure) or be chronically elevated (narrow angle glaucoma). In acute angle closure, patients develop the rapid onset of blurred vision, haloes around lights, severe pain, nausea and vomiting. Unless the pressure is brought under control rapidly, complete blindness may result in a very short time.

  • Congenital Glaucoma

    If the outflow system of the eye exhibits abnormalities from the time of birth, congenital glaucoma may result. Infants born with glaucoma may be extremely sensitive to light and tear excessively, or the front of the eye may be enlarged or cloudy. Fortunately, this condition is uncommon. An eye examination is advised even for newborns if such symptoms are noted.

  • Secondary Glaucoma

    Glaucoma may result from trauma or injury, diabetes, or previous stroke in the eye, or may happen as a result of certain medications or inflammation. These are all conditions which may lead to blockage of aqueous drainage from the eye and high intraocular pressures.

Detecting Glaucoma

The eye pressure is measured during your eye examination. We also examine the back of the eye to ensure the health of the optic nerve and to look for possible damage. Several other risk factors are a consideration in developing glaucoma, including a family history of glaucoma, ethnic origin, diabetes, anemia, or hardening of the arteries. It is important to understand that while treatment and surgery can usually prevent further vision loss, there is no way to restore vision already lost due to glaucoma.

Treating Glaucoma

Glaucoma can sometimes be controlled by topical medications (eye drops) or by oral medications. These medications assist the outflow of fluid or may decrease the amount of fluid produced within the eyes. All eye drops and oral medications have potential side effects.

If medications are not effective in the control of glaucoma, laser treatment may be indicated to decrease the eye pressure and preserve vision.

GARDEN CITY, LONG ISLAND
450 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530
Phone: 516.832.8000
For a LASIK consultation, please call (516) 832-8000 ext. 4
MANHATTAN
185 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor (On the corner of 34th Street) New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212.689.7676
For a LASIK consultation, please call (516) 832-8000 ext. 4
HAUPPAUGE, LONG ISLAND
200 Motor Parkway, Suite D-25 Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone: 631.952.8000
For a LASIK consultation, please call (516) 832-8000 ext. 4
spanish flagamerican flag
HIPAA Policy PRIVACY POLICY SECTION 1557 - AFFORDABLE CARE ACT Accessibility Disclaimer
Facebook Twitter Instagram Blog

If you are seeking a Long Island LASIK specialist, the eye doctors at Stahl Eyecare Experts would like to offer you a great opportunity in laser eye surgery. Brought to you by professional, experienced Long Island LASIK surgeons, our one-of-a-kind medical facility brings not only cutting-edge technology, but experienced hands in ophthalmology as well. Helping you achieve your personal best vision is mission critical at our Long Island LASIK office. If LASIK cost is something that has been holding you back please feel free to review our options regarding LASIK Financing. We are dedicated to providing the best in patient education so that our patients can make a well-educated decision as to whether or not LASIK would be a good vision correction option. Remember, not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. This is precisely why you need to have an experienced LASIK surgeon in Long Island evaluate you to make sure that this is the right eye surgery procedure for you! If LASIK is not the best procedure for you, we offer other ophthalmology procedures such as cataract surgery to help you see better. If you are seeking a Long Island cataract surgeon we are happy to offer cataract consultations to educate you about this process and determine your vision correction options.

If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call 516.832.8000.

All Rights Reserved. Stahl Eyecare Experts ©2024

Stahl Eyecare Experts
Back to top