Interventional Treatments in Glaucoma Care

In my years of treating glaucoma, a recurring theme I experience with patients is uncertainty, or a lack of confidence, in using eye drops properly. Whether it’s forgetfulness, difficulty with affordability or refills, concerns about proper medication storage, or a miscommunication in dosing, eye drops fail in one major way: consistency.

Thankfully, with today’s modern technological advancements, there are a number of innovative ways for our patients to get the 24/7 treatment they need, without added responsibility to make sure it’s being done consistently.

In this blog, I’ll go over a variety of innovative treatment options for glaucoma management, so that if the time comes for you or a loved one to consider (or reconsider) treatment, you will have some confidence going into your next appointment.

But, before we dive into detection and treatments, it’s important to ask:

What is Glaucoma?

Generally speaking, glaucoma is a disease that causes loss of vision. It can develop at any age, but it is most common in adults 60 and older. In fact, it’s the leading cause of irreversible blindness for people in that age group.

Glaucoma can be tricky to detect because it often has no warning signs. Most people don’t realize they have it until later stages of the disease–that’s how it earned the nickname “the silent thief of sight.” This is why it’s important to get regular eye exams in the hopes of catching it before it causes irreversible damage.

Treatments for Glaucoma

Traditionally, we prescribed eye drops as the first line of defense when it comes to lessening the progression of glaucoma. Eye drops can still be used as an effective treatment in certain situations, but new evidence has emerged to support newer options—like laser—as a better first treatment.

These advancements in technology have been developed to get ahead of the disease and prevent further loss of vision or the need for more invasive, risky surgery.

Several of these innovative treatments include:

• Laser Procedures – These procedures can reduce or even eliminate the need for the patient to use eye drops. The type of treatment is determined by the type of glaucoma the patient has. The most common procedure is a Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), where we use a gentle tissue-stimulating laser to target the drainage system of the eye, which helps improve fluid outflow and lowers eye pressure. This is now considered first-line for ocular hypertension (high eye pressure) and many forms of glaucoma .

• Drug Delivery Devices – These devices are implanted directly in the eye and slowly deliver medication over time to lower eye pressure, replacing or reducing the need for eye drops. These implantable devices may be done in the office or with a simple surgery, and they can last from 4 months to 3 years.

• Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) – These procedures create small incisions in the drainage system or involve implantation of a small microscopic stent that helps improve the drainage of fluid from the eye, therefore lowering eye pressure. These surgeries may be combined with cataract surgery or done alone.

• Depressurizing Eye Goggles – A non-surgical, non-pharmacological option that helps lower eye pressure.

Glaucoma Awareness and Prevention

Because glaucoma often develops without noticeable symptoms, regular eye exams are essential for early detection and treatment are critical to preserving vision. This is especially true for people over 60 years of age, those with a family history of the disease, or other risk factors.

Patients who are treated early in the disease course, with options like laser, drug implants, or minimally invasive surgery, can avoid significant vision loss, troublesome side effects and difficulty with eye drops, and the need for more invasive, higher-risk surgeries.

Want to learn more about glaucoma and the various ways it can be treated? Vance Thompson Vision is dedicated to using the world’s leading-edge technology combined with our vast experience to help treat your glaucoma and preserve your vision for years to come.

Learn more on our glaucoma page, then contact us or your primary eye care provider and schedule an appointment.