Central Carolina Surgical Eye Associates, P.A.
What Is Glaucoma?
To understand exactly what glaucoma is, it is best to explain a little about the eye
itself. The eye continually makes fluid behind the iris (the colored part or the eye).
This fluid drains through a meshwork that circles the inside of the eye in front of the
iris.
Glaucoma is an eye disease that occurs when this fluid is prevented by a blockage from
draining from the eye. This results in pressure building up inside the eye that can damage
the optic nerve, which is in the back of the eye. It is the optic nerve that carries all
the visual information (everything you see) to the brain. If glaucoma is not treated, the
end result may be blindess.
There are two main types of glaucoma. The acute type of glaucoma is caused by the iris of
the eye suddenly blocking the drainage of fluid from the eye. This sudden increase in
pressure results in severe pain, halos around lights, and decreased vision.
A much more common type is chronic glaucoma in which increased eye pressure slowly and
painlessly results in loss of side vision, and if not treated, may lead to total loss of
vision.
What Is The Treatment For Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is treated by putting drops in your eyes one to four times a day. This is usually
effective in controlling the pressure in the eye. Other times, however, it may be
necessary for you to take prescribed pills to help control the pressure. There are some
occasions when the pressure cannot be controlled by medication alone. In those cases, it
may be necessary for your ophthalmologist to perform laser surgery or another surgical
procedure. It is important for you to know: because glaucoma can be controlled, but not
cured, periodic dilated eye examinations are necessary.
What Is Laser Surgery?
The laser is a highly concentrated beam of light that can be precisely aimed to treat
glaucoma. In acute glaucoma, the laser is focused on the iris to make a tiny hole for the
fluid to drain from the eye. In chronic glaucoma, the laser is focused on the drain of the
eye itself to help fluid drain more easily from the eye. Because the laser can be
controlled so exactly, it is both safe and reliable. This in-office procedure takes about
five minutes and causes no pain
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