Glaucoma Specialist

What is glaucoma?

There are many types of glaucoma that all result in damage to your optic nerve. Glaucoma usually starts when the pressure within one or both of your eyes becomes unusually high, and the condition often develops without warning. You can go for years without knowing you have glaucoma until you’ve already lost a significant amount of vision. 

When there is too much fluid called aqueous humor inside of your eye, the pressure can increase. Your eyes contain this fluid to hold their structure, and they each include a drainage system to regulate the pressure. If your eyes produce too much aqueous humor or if the drainage system malfunctions, you might develop glaucoma. 

You can’t restore your vision after damage from glaucoma, but with treatment, you can prevent it from worsening. At Berkeley Heights Eye Group, Dr. Leventhal diagnoses and treats glaucoma of all kinds. He can also find early signs of glaucoma with an eye pressure test during your routine eye exams, even before you notice any change in your vision. 

Which type of glaucoma do I have?

Several types of glaucoma come from different causes and have varying symptoms. During your comprehensive eye exam at Berkeley Heights Eye Group, Dr. Leventhal asks about any noticeable changes in your vision and examines your eyes for common signs of glaucoma. The two main types of the condition are:

Primary open-angle glaucoma

Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the condition and causes gradual, painless vision decline. There are several theories of what causes primary open-angle glaucoma, but it may be because your eyes’ drainage system declines over time.

Angle-closure glaucoma

Acute angle-closure glaucoma sets in quickly and is a medical emergency. If you have it, you might experience severe pain in your head or around your eyes, sudden blurry vision, or nausea and vomiting. You can also have chronic angle-closure glaucoma, which isn’t an emergency. Both occur when your eyes’ drainage system becomes blocked. 

What are my treatment options for glaucoma?

After you get your glaucoma diagnosis, Dr. Leventhal develops a treatment plan to reduce the pressure within your eyes. He might recommend:

• Medicated eye drops
• Laser surgery
• Conventional surgery
• Drainage valve implants
  
  

With laser surgery and conventional surgery, Dr. Leventhal stimulates the drainage system within your eyes to promote efficient draining. He typically recommends medications first and surgery if drugs alone aren’t successful. 

For more information about glaucoma and available treatments, schedule your exam by phone or book online at Berkeley Heights Eye Group today.