What’s New in Glaucoma Care: Seeing Beyond the Drops

The New Year is all about fresh starts. Setting new goals, exploring new challenges, and discovering new solutions for treating glaucoma—which is especially exciting for our team. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, and we’re calling attention to the advancements that have been made in glaucoma care and how they’re revolutionizing treatment for patients.

Understanding Glaucoma

Before we dive into treatments, it’s important to know what exactly glaucoma is and how it affects vision. 

Glaucoma occurs when pressure inside the eye causes damage to the optic nerve, resulting in the loss of peripheral vision, which eventually progresses to central vision and leads to blindness. When it reaches this point, glaucoma cannot be reversed and the damage to the optic nerve is permanent. Though not curable, glaucoma is treatable through management of the pressure in the eye to prevent further damage. What’s considered “normal” eye pressure varies from person to person. If eye pressure reaches above 21mmHg, it might be a good indication to talk to your doctor about further testing. 

Interventional Glaucoma - A New Way to Treat Glaucoma

Interventional glaucoma (IG) isn’t just a form of treatment—it’s a mindset shift. Instead of relying on eye drops as the first line of defense in treating glaucoma, IG is a proactive approach that utilizes  non-invasive lasers, drug implants, and/or minimally invasive surgery. Compared to eye drops, IG typically does a better job of preventing vision loss and the need for invasive, serious surgeries. Eye drops, which were once first-line, aren’t an effective solution on their own, and they often cause side effects and many patients will continue to lose vision. Non-drop options allow us to stay ahead of the disease, are safe and patient-friendly, and can reduce the risk of glaucoma progression.

IG treatments for glaucoma include:

Procedural Pharmaceuticals - Drug implants that are performed through a simple and painless process. They release medication into the eye exactly when needed. This way, patients get the benefits of medication while avoiding the side effects and daily burden of topical medications. These medication implants can last in the eye from approximately 4 months to 3 years.

Laser Treatments - These treatments target drainage tissue, improving flow and helping to stimulate and rejuvenate the eye. Lasers are usually performed in-office but may occasionally be done in the operating room.

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) - Resistance of the natural outflow pathway causes pressure in the eye to go up. Minor surgeries—such as MIGS—improve drainage in the eye, either through removal of drainage tissue or by inserting a stent. They can be done during cataract surgery or on their own.

Eye Drops and Medications - Prescription eye drops either slow the amount of fluid produced or improve drainage in the eye. To remain effective as a standalone treatment, they must be applied daily. Eye drops have a short window of efficacy from 12-24 hours and when used repeatedly over time, they can cause irritation (sometimes severe) to the eyes. For this reason, under an IG care plan, drops are offered only as a supplement or bridge to procedures

New Clear Resolutions

There’s a lot to look forward to in the new year. For our team, we’re most excited about where interventional glaucoma can go from here—and how it will continue to improve and transform the lives of our patients.

Want to learn more about glaucoma? Visit our glaucoma page or contact us at (605) 361-3937 to schedule your consultation today.

Glaucoma FAQs

What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma occurs when pressure inside the eye causes damage to the optic nerve, resulting in loss of peripheral vision. This can progress to central vision and lead to blindness.

Is glaucoma treatable or curable?
At this time, glaucoma is not curable and damage to your optic nerve is permanent. Glaucoma is treatable, however. Treatment requires the management of intraocular pressure to prevent further damage.

What is considered dangerously high eye pressure?
“Normal" eye pressure will vary from one person to the next, but an eye pressure above 21mmHg may be reason for further testing. Consult with your optometrist if you have any concerns.