Glaucoma Treatment

What is Glaucoma?
What are the Risk Factors?
What is the latest treatment?

The second leading cause of blindness in the United States is glaucoma. A chronic disease that affects about four million Americans over the age of 40, half of whom remain unaware they have the disease. Unlike most other diseases, glaucoma has no obvious symptoms and can permanently damage vision without warning. Once vision is lost to glaucoma, it can never be restored.

Glaucoma is characterized by a buildup of fluid within the eye, causing intraocular pressure to increase. This pressure increase affects the optic nerve, resulting in cellular death and vision loss. In a healthy eye, fluid containing nutrients to bathe the eye and help the eyeball maintain its shape is continuously drained and replenished, however, in a person with glaucoma, this fluid either does not drain properly or is created in excess, resulting in pressure that, if left untreated, eventually damages the optic nerve. When this occurs, partial or total vision loss may result. Because vision loss is irreversible and painless, early detection and treatment is critical. The only acceptable treatment for glaucoma is to lower intraocular pressure.

Certain groups of people have been shown to be at increased risk for developing glaucoma. These groups include: people over the age of 40, people who have a family history of glaucoma, African and Hispanic Americans, people who have diabetes, hypertension, myopia (nearsightedness), poor ocular circulation, a previous eye injury, people who have used steroid/cortisone medications on a long-term basis and especially people with elevated intraocular pressure. "It is especially important for individuals who are at high risk to visit an eye doctor regularly for dilated eye exams," said Dr. Wagle.

To provide patients with the latest alternatives in glaucoma management, Dr. Wagle is pleased to announce the availability of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, a progressive new treatment in the fight to stop the progression of glaucoma. This therapy and once-daily prescription medications, are now available at Eye Surgeons Associates. According to a study reported by the National Eye Institute, immediate treatment of open-angle glaucoma in its early stages has been shown to delay progression of the disease and reduce subsequent vision loss.

"Screening and early intervention is critical to detecting and stopping the relentless progression of glaucoma,” said Dr. Wagle. “This breakthrough laser treatment has been clinically proven to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) which has been attributed to the progression of glaucoma. SLT is the ideal treatment modality. It has virtually no side effects thereby eliminating or reducing the quantity of prescription medications, eye drops, surgery and other invasive treatments required to control the disease," he added.

"I have been seeing Doctor Wagle for glaucoma treatment for 2-3 years now. I came in for a regular eye exam and was surprised to find out that I had glaucoma. I had no symptoms. I’ve been using drops for the last 2-3 years to control it. My left eye has grown worse than my right eye. Dr. Wagle suggested I try the SLT laser. I was hesitant about this new laser treatment, but Dr. Wagle explained how it worked and that there would be no pain. He was right. There was no pain and my pressure went down a lot in my left eye. I’ve seen improvement with both treatments, but nothing as significant as with the laser. With these treatments, I know that I can continue to enjoy my reading and get to my fitness center 3 days a week," said Mrs. Segura, long-time patient of Dr. Wagle.

Dr. Wagle was one of the first ophthalmologists in the area to offer this non-invasive laser treatment system called Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), made available by Lumenis, Inc. This therapy can be administered in the ophthalmologist’s own office to lower the eye pressure that is symptomatic of glaucoma. SLT does not cause scarring or damage to the eye like other laser treatments and has been shown to effectively keep pressure lower for several years. SLT may also be an alternative for patients who have been treated unsuccessfully with laser surgery in the past or with pressure lowering eye drops. New once-daily prescription eye drops, new combination medications and refinements to conventional surgical procedures have also been added to the arsenal of new treatment options for the disease.

"Treatment options have come a long way not only to improve the lives of people suffering from glaucoma, but that help arrest the disease before vision loss occurs for people who are diagnosed early," added Dr. Wagle.

Nikhil Wagle, M.D. joined Eye Surgeons Associates in 1999 as a glaucoma consultant and comprehensive ophthalmologist. He achieved a fellowship in glaucoma from Duke University Eye Center. Dr. Wagle is board certified and a diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology. He frequently lectures on glaucoma topics. His areas of special interest include: medical, laser and surgical treatment of glaucoma, suture-less clear corneal cataract surgery, and comprehensive ophthalmology.