Glaucoma specialists

Glaucoma

Diagnosis & Treatment

Our Mission

To provide the best possible eye care for patients in Eastern Idaho

3
Locations
6+
Eye Specialists
What to expect from Premier Eye Care:
  • Knowledgeable, friendly, and thorough service
  • State-of-the-art technology
  • Optimal eye health and vision
  • Comprehensive eye care, unique to you

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions characterized by irreversible damage to the optic nerve. This damage to the optic nerve may lead to permanent blindness. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States and second leading cause of blindness in the world.

1: Drainage Canal Blocked Causing Too Much Fluid To Stay In The Eye And Increase Pressure.
2: Hi Pressure Damages Optic Nerve


People with glaucoma often do not experience pain or recognizable symptoms in the early stages of the disease. When the optic nerve becomes damaged by glaucoma, peripheral vision is usually the first to be lost.

Early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma is essential to minimize or prevent optic nerve damage and vision loss. When glaucoma is detected early, the progress of the disease can be slowed through medical and surgical treatment.

Glaucoma Treatment

The goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower the pressure in the eye. By lowering the eye pressure, we are able to slow the progression of glaucoma, often to the point where we see no noticeable worsening of vision.

The target level of eye pressure varies from person to person and may change over time. The eye pressure may be lowered using medication eye drops, laser procedures, or surgery.

Laser Surgery for glaucoma

SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) is a commonly performed laser surgery to treat glaucoma. In this procedure, a low power laser is used to treat the drainage area inside the eye called the trabecular meshwork. This treatment causes changes in the drain that allow the fluid in the eye to drain more easily, resulting in lower eye pressure. Laser trabeculoplasty has been performed for over 40 years in millions of patients. Most patients feel no pain during the procedure, which is performed in the office. Many patients choose Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty as first line therapy for treating glaucoma.

Iridotomy is a laser surgery to relieve or prevent angle closure glaucoma. The surgeon uses a laser to create a small hole in the iris, which allows the aqueous fluid in the eye access to the drain of the eye.

Cyclophotocoagulation is a laser surgery performed in the operating room in patients with more advanced or aggressive forms of glaucoma. In this procedure, the laser energy passes through the outer layers of the eye to treat the ciliary body, the muscle that creates the fluid that fills the eye. This treatment reduces the amount of fluid produced by the ciliary body, which results in lower eye pressure.

Incisional glaucoma surgery

For some patients, glaucoma treatment requires incisional surgery to adequately lower the eye pressure. The two primary types of incisional surgery are angle surgery and filtration surgery. Glaucoma surgery is frequently performed along with cataract surgery in patients who need treatment for cataracts and glaucoma.

Angle Surgery

When performing angle surgery, the goal is to rehabilitate the patient’s trabecular meshwork drain that is located in a position in the eye called the angle. Angle surgery helps many patients lower the pressure in their eye by improving the function of their eye’s natural drainage area, the trabecular meshwork. We commonly perform angle surgery including ABIC (Ab Interno Canaloplasty) and iStent implantation.

ABIC (Ab Interno Canaloplasty)

This is an angle surgery performed in the operating room that attempts to restore the function of the eye’s natural drainage system. Using a small incision in the front part of the eye, a small needle enters the drainage canal behind the trabecular meshwork. A microscopic catheter is then advanced through the drainage canal to open the canal and clear small areas of scarring and obstruction. As the catheter is retracted, a thick gel is expressed from the tip of the catheter to inflate the drainage canal. The catheter and needle are both removed and the eye is closed. Most patients experience minimal symptoms with this procedure.

Filtration Surgery

For some patients, the trabecular meshwork is damaged or cannot be rehabilitated. These patients may need a filtration surgery, which involves the creation of a new drain for the eye. The most common filtration surgeries are trabeculectomy and aqueous shunt surgery.

Dr. Traynor Addresses Glaucoma FAQs

In this video, Dr. Traynor addresses some frequently asked questions, such as "Is glaucoma genetic?" and "If I get treatment for glaucoma, will my vision be fully restored?" If you have any additional questions, please reach out to us.

Glaucoma

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Call or schedule an appointment to get a more in-depth look at your eye health.

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How do I know if I have glaucoma?

Detecting glaucoma requires much more than just measuring the eye pressure. The doctors at Premier Eye Care can help you know if you have glaucoma by performing a comprehensive eye examination with particular attention to the health of the optic nerve and assessment of your peripheral vision.

You may be at a higher risk for glaucoma if you have any of the following risk factors:
  • Family history of glaucoma
  • Prior ocular injury
  • Long term use of steroid medications
  • African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage
  • Elevated eye pressure
  • Very far sighted or very near sighted
  • Thinner than normal corneas
  • Thinning of the optic nerve
  • Over 40 years old
  • Medical history of diabetes, high blood pressure, or migraines

What will glaucoma do to my vision?

Glaucoma can cause blindness but it can be prevented. If diagnosed at an early stage, the damage can be controlled. If the patients waits for treatment, they are likely to lose peripheral vision first, then central vision with may result in completge blindness.

Any damage to your optic nerve copormises the quality and quantity of information your brain gets which results in the possibility of blindness.

How can I tell if I have glaucoma?

Glaucoma is known as "The Silent Thief" because it slowly takes away your vision without much warning. Symptoms generally do not show until the vision is already far gone. The first test to check for glaucoma is Tonometry, which tests the internal pressure of your ete. If there are any changes, your doctor will consult you about next steps and tests.

Is glaucoma genetic?

There are some types of glaucoma that are highly genetic, meaning that if you have a family member with this type of glaucoma you are at a higher risk of developing it. Other forms of glaucoma are not genetic and we are all at a slight risk of developing it at some point within our lives.

If I get treatment for glaucoma, will my vision be fully restored?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Glaucoma permanently damages the optic nerve. This is why it is so crucial to prevent glaucoma damage with regular eye appointments.
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Our Locations

Monday-Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am - 3:00pm
Idaho Falls, ID
2100 Providence Way Idaho Falls, ID 83404

Located South of EIRMC and Sunnyside Rd in Idaho Falls

Location Details
(208) 529-6600
Pocatello, ID
1777 E Clark St #310 Pocatello, ID 83201

Located on Clark St. right off of I-15 take exit 69. Between 16th & 17th Ave.

Location Details
(208) 232-4133
Rexburg, ID
23 Sawtelle Ave Suite 102 Rexburg, ID 83440

Right off of Main Street West of I-15 across from Valley Wide Country Store & Blister's BBQ.

Location Details
(208) 359-1888
verified reviews

Hundreds of Happy Patients Throughout Eastern Idaho

Idaho Falls Office
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Brad S.

Dr. Thomson has been helping me with a couple different issues now and I could not be happier. He takes the time...
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Idaho Falls Office
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Chip E.

Extremely professional staff, hard working and extremely competent in their job duties...
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Pocatello Office
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Vicki A.

Dr Beckstead and the entire staff were friendly, helpful and professional.
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Rexburg Office
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Paul B.

Dr Fullmer has been treating my glaucoma since he diagnosed it many years ago...
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