Why Glaucoma Treatment Requires Frequent Monitoring

Glaucoma is often called the "silent thief of sight" for a good reason. Because it frequently has no symptoms in its earliest stages, studies suggest that over half of individuals with glaucoma are unaware they have the condition until it starts to impair their vision.

Vision loss after a glaucoma diagnosis can be prevented with appropriate treatment and frequent monitoring. Keep reading to understand why frequent monitoring is a crucial requirement of glaucoma treatment.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions characterized by damage to the optic nerve, the structure of the eye responsible for carryingvisual information to the brain for processing so that you can see. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve when fluid inside the eye (aqueous humor) cannot drainproperly, causing intraocular pressure (IOP) to rise to harmful levels.

As IOP builds up within the eye, it puts stress on the optic nerve, compressing nerve fibers and blocking the delivery of blood and other essential nutrients. Eventually, the optic nerve cells begin to die off, stopping the transmission of visual information.

As glaucoma progresses, it often affects peripheral vision first, causing blind spots and tunnel vision. If left untreated, it can cause irreversible blindness.

There is no cure for glaucoma. Optic nerve damage caused by glaucoma is permanent, but frequent monitoring, medications, and targeted surgeries can prevent further damage and prevent further vision impairment.

What is Glaucoma Monitoring?

Early detection is key to limiting vision loss from glaucoma. The most common type of glaucoma, open-angle, is often asymptomatic in its earliest stages and can cause significant damage if not caught early.

Once an individual has been diagnosed with the condition, glaucoma monitoring is an essential part of effective glaucoma management.

It involves regular comprehensive eye exams to measure eye pressure, assess the health of the optic nerve, and detect vision changes.Individuals who require glaucoma monitoring often need more frequent eye exams.Most glaucoma patients are asked to schedule assessment exams every 3 to 6months, but the frequency of exams can vary by individual.

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What Happens During a Glaucoma Assessment?

When a glaucoma patient comes in for an assessment, their eye doctor will perform a series of tests that specifically check forchanges in eye health or vision caused by glaucoma. These tests include:

Eye Pressure Test (Tonometry)

A history of elevated IOP is the most telling symptom of glaucoma. Eye doctors check IOP with a test called tonometry, which involves measuring the amount of force needed to flatten a small area of the cornea.

Visual Field Test

Because glaucoma often first affects peripheral vision, this test checks for new or worsening vision loss. It is a simple test in whicha patient is asked to follow an object as it is moved around their full range of vision.

Optic Nerve Assessment

Assessment of the optic nerve is critical for monitoring the progression of glaucoma and planning treatment. Eye care providers use devices with microscopic lenses, like ophthalmoscopes and slit lamps, to closely examine the optic nerve and drainage angle of the eye.

Optical Coherence Tomography

The most advanced technology eye care providers can use to assess the optic nerve is optical coherence tomography. This technology creates detailed digital images of the structures within the eye.

Corneal Thickness Measurement (Pachymetry)

Thicker corneas can mask elevated IOP, so eye care providers perform this test to ensure accurate eye pressure results. During the test, a device called a pachymeter touches the corneas and uses ultrasound waves to measure thickness.

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Does Glaucoma Always Cause Vision Loss?

When detected and treated in its earliest stages, glaucoma does not always cause vision loss. Many individuals with early-stage glaucoma can maintain the quality of their vision with close monitoring and adherence to prescribed treatments.

If left untreated, glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss, starting gradually with peripheral vision and eventually affecting central vision. Once vision has been lost, there are currently no treatments available to restore it.

What Treatments AreAvailable for Glaucoma?

The goal of the available treatments for glaucoma is to reduce IOP. Treatments include eye drops, laser procedures, and incisional surgery.

Eye Drops

Medicated eye drops are an important part of most glaucoma treatment plans. They are often the first treatment prescribed and may require long-term use to prevent the condition from worsening.

Depending on the eye drop prescribed, they can either reduce fluid production or increase fluid outflow. Other eye drops, called alpha agonists, aim to do both and offer a more convenient and comprehensive approach to controlling glaucoma.

Laser Procedures

Laser procedures, including selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), iridotomy, and cyclophotocoagulation, may be used in addition to eye drops for more effective control of IOP. SLT is one of the most commonly performed surgeries to treat glaucoma.

It involves using a low-power laser to treat the eye's trabecular meshwork and increase fluid drainage. During an iridotomy, a lasercreates a small hole in the iris that can help the aqueous humor access the eye's drainage angle.

Cyclophotocoagulation, which is used for more advanced stages of glaucoma, aims to lower eye pressure by reducing the amount of fluid produced by the ciliary body, the muscle that creates ocular fluid.

Glaucoma Surgery

The primary types of incisional surgery for glaucoma are angle surgery and filtration surgery. Some surgeries aim to improve the trabecular meshwork, while others involve implanting tiny stents in the eye's angle.

A glaucoma diagnosis doesn't have to result insignificant vision loss when it is treated early and frequently monitored. Closely following treatment plans and scheduling frequent eye exams can help prevent glaucoma from stealing your sight.

Is your vision at risk without you knowing? Don't let the silent thief of sight rob you of precious vision. Schedule an appointment at Premier Eye Care of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls, ID, today!

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