Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness today. At Stratus Eye in Suwanee, Georgia, board-certified ophthalmologist Jeffrey Tran, MD, provides complete glaucoma care to help you manage vision problems. Dr. Tran can diagnose your glaucoma and then recommend the most effective solution. Call the ophthalmology clinic today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about glaucoma.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes damage in your eye’s optic nerve. Optic nerves carry visual messages to your brain, allowing you to see objects. Once damaged, it can cause vision problems, including blindness. 

While people who are over the age of 60 have a greater risk of developing glaucoma, you can have glaucoma when you’re younger, as well.

Are there different types of glaucoma?

There are two different types of glaucoma: 

Open-angle glaucoma (OAG)

When you have open-angle glaucoma, your eyes don’t drain fluid properly. The fluid accumulates, leading to increased eye pressure that damages the optic nerve. 

While OAG is painless and doesn’t cause any vision changes at first, it’s a progressive condition that causes worsening peripheral (side) and central vision. 

Angle-closure glaucoma (ACG)

Angle-closure glaucoma is a rare form of glaucoma. It occurs when your eyes’ drainage system becomes blocked. 

ACG causes symptoms like blurry vision, halos around lights, headaches, and eye pain. Without treatment, it can lead to vision loss. 

Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent vision complications. If you suspect glaucoma, Dr. Tran can monitor your eyes for any changes and help you maintain optimal eye health. 

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

A glaucoma diagnosis may require several tests, including: 

• Eye pressure check
• Evaluation of your eye’s drainage system
• Optic nerve exam
• Peripheral vision testing
• Central vision testing

While eye pressure checks are the standard glaucoma test, Dr. Tran may use a variety of tests to carefully evaluate your eye health and make a diagnosis.

How is glaucoma treated? 

Glaucoma treatment can prevent blindness or slow vision loss. Treatment options for glaucoma may include:

• Eye drops
• Oral medication 
• Same-day laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) for narrow angle and closed-angle glaucoma
• Inner-eye stents for open-angle glaucoma with cataracts
• Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) 

Your specific treatment at Stratus Eye depends on your condition and the severity of your symptoms.  

Dr. Tran always stays up-to-date with all of the latest treatment options. He can recommend an eye care plan to give you effective, long-term results. 

Can I prevent glaucoma?

While you can’t prevent glaucoma, you can slow its progression. You should schedule annual eye exams to check your eye health. This is especially important for those who have diabetes (diabetic retinopathy) as they have twice the risk of experiencing glaucoma.

At Straus Eye, Dr. Tran offers in-depth glaucoma care with special attention and compliance to proper treatments, including medications and surgery. 

Call Stratus Eye today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about glaucoma.