Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness, but when diagnosed early, your sight can be restored. Therefore, if you have diabetes, are over forty years old, have a family history of glaucoma, or have used steroids for a long time. You should seek medical help because you are at risk of developing glaucoma. Doing so helps in early diagnosis and treatment of the condition before severe complications like blindness develop. Suppose you are experiencing blurry vision, redness in the eye, or eye pain, and you suspect that you might be suffering from Prospect Lefferts Gardens glaucoma. It would help if you began with learning the treatment option available before trying any. Some of the treatment options available include:
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Eyedrops
Eye Drops are often the first line of treatment and aim to relieve pressure in your eye by improving fluid flow through the drains in your eyes. Others aim at reducing the amount of fluid that your eye is making. In some cases, you may be prescribed two or more eye drops depending on how low your eye pressure is supposed to be. Examples of eye drop medications include beta blockers, which reduce fluid production in your eyes, thus helping alleviate eye pressure. Prostaglandins may also be given, which usually reduce the pressure in your eye by increasing the outflow of the fluid. Alpha-adrenergic agonists, rho kinase inhibitors, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors all reduce fluid production in the eye, thus lowering pressure. However, cholinergic or miotic agents increase fluid flow in your eye, thus relieving pressure.
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Oral medication
In most cases, eye drops alone may not reduce the pressure to desired levels. For this reason, your care provider may prescribe oral drugs like carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Some side effects of carbonic anhydrase include tingling in toes and fingers, frequent urination, depression, kidney stones, and stomach upset.
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Surgery and other therapies
Laser therapy
Generally, laser trabeculoplasty is a treatment option when you can no longer tolerate eye drops. It can also be used if the current treatment you are receiving has not slowed the progression of your condition. In that case, your eye specialist may recommend laser surgery before initiating eye drops. It is an in-office procedure that involves inserting a small laser to improve the drainage of the affected tissues found at the angle between the cornea and iris. It may take a few weeks before you start noticing the results.
Drainage tubes
During this procedure, your care provider inserts tiny tubes into your eye to help drain excess fluid. Doing so relieves pressure, thus improving your vision.
Filtering surgery
It’s a surgical procedure also referred to as trabeculectomy. The procedure involves creating an opening in your white eye, commonly referred to as the sclera. Doing so creates a space for the fluid accumulated in your eye to leave, thus reducing the pressure.
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery
Your care provider may recommend this procedure to lower the pressure in your eye after the procedure; less immediate post-operative care is required.
You can schedule your appointment at LaSante Overall Health Center today if you are experiencing symptoms that suggest you have glaucoma. Doing so helps in early diagnosis and treatment, thus reducing complications such as blindness.
