Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and even blindness. This condition is often caused by increased pressure within the eye, which damages the optic nerve over time without other symptoms. Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide and affects individuals of all ages.
There are several different types of glaucoma, including open-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, and traumatic glaucoma. The majority of all glaucomas that we encounter are primary open-angle glaucoma.
Glaucoma Symptoms
Symptoms of glaucoma are usually silent but with advanced damage can include blurry vision, difficulty seeing in low light, and loss of peripheral vision. Blindness is the dreaded complication of undetected glaucoma. We take our time to make the diagnosis of glaucoma and only use the best-in-class devices to assist us in the journey.
It is important to note that early detection and treatment are essential for managing glaucoma and preventing vision loss. Individuals who are at risk of developing glaucoma, such as those with a family history of the condition, should have regular eye exams and take steps to manage their eye health, such as maintaining healthy blood pressure/glucose levels and avoiding smoking.
Glaucoma Treatment
As for treatment, we are proficient in the use of all topical pharmaceutical agents that help lower pressure in the eye. Our expert team works diligently to get insurance coverage and access to affordable therapy for everyone. When eye drops fail or are not good enough (some people are on multiple drops), we go to the next step which is “interventional glaucoma.” This is often a bridge to prevent more advanced disease requiring invasive procedures. We aim to prevent patients from progressing to this “advanced state” of glaucoma.
Advanced and later-stage surgical options may include trabeculectomy, which involves creating a small hole in the eye to allow fluid to drain, or implantation of a shunt to redirect fluid flow out of the eye － we work closely with surgeons in our network to ensure prompt care when aggressive action is needed.
Interventional procedures are often used to treat glaucoma and include both surgical and laser-therapy approaches. Non-incisional options include laser therapy to reduce eye pressure. These procedures not only take into account disease state, but also patient ability and comfort. New innovations we have helped bring to the forefront include minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). DrJ is passionate about MIGS, and is particularly at the cusp of innovation for many of these procedures during the past 15 years. He is considered a key opinion leader and speaks widely to train and learn from surgeons from around the country and across the world.
We have one of the nation’s first Centers for Interventional Glaucoma (CIGS-ECCNJ) dedicated to a minimally invasive approach in caring for glaucoma when the disease requires more than eye drops to control eye pressure. The advantages of MIGS include efficiency, quick recovery and direct drug delivery. Most of these procedures are done in the office while others can be seamlessly combined with cataract surgery.
It’s “EyeCare because WeCare!”