Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness. It is a group of diseases that can cause blindness without any warning or symptoms. Over 4 million Americans have glaucoma and only half of them know it. People at every age are at risk for glaucoma, from babies to seniors. It is not curable and any vision lost can not be regained.

Diagnosis is the first step to preserving your vision.

The only way to combat Glaucoma is through early detection. At Peninsula Laser Eye Medical Group, we strongly recommend annual eye exams to all of our patients. Our surgeons use the Heidelberg Retinal Tomography or HRT, which is the best instrument available to analyze the optic nerve in 3 dimensions. It is imperative to have a 3-dimensional view in order to find early loss in optic nerve tissues.

Treatment

Depending upon the type or severity of the disease, Drs. Volpicelli and Beers may suggest prescription eye drops, laser procedures or surgery. These treatments will decrease eye pressure in order to protect the optic nerve from further damage. For most people, a combination of these treatments can safely control Glaucoma.

Drs. Volpicelli and Beers offer an advanced laser treatment for Glaucoma called Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT). SLT uses short pulses of low energy laser light to target very specific melanin containing cells. Targeting these cells stimulates the body's own healing response to lower the pressure within the eye. This high-tech laser procedure for Glaucoma only takes a few minutes. It is safe and has no side effects. SLT is reimbursed by Medicare and other insurance companies and can reduce the costs of glaucoma medications over time.