Open Angle Glaucoma

The buildup of pressure within the eye arises when the drainage canals of the eye become obstructed. When left untreated, glaucoma may cause permanent damage to the optic nerve, resulting in significant or complete vision loss.

Open Angle Glaucoma Symptoms

Most cases of open angle glaucoma have no visible symptoms. The best way to screen for open angle glaucoma and other glaucoma conditions is to undergo regular eye exams, especially after age 50.

Your ophthalmologist may perform a number of diagnostic tests to determine if you have signs of open angle glaucoma, including a complete eye exam, visual field testing, and optic nerve photos. Visual field exams help determine your ability to see peripherally. Your eye doctor will also measure the pressure in your eye and the thickness of your cornea.

Because open angle glaucoma often presents without any symptoms and is painless, patients may remain unaware of the condition until it has become advanced. The best way to protect your vision from open angle glaucoma is to regularly visit your ophthalmologist for routine examinations.

Open Angle Glaucoma Treatment

Since glaucoma can cause irreversible vision loss, treatment is aimed at preventing vision loss and halting its progression. It is essential to begin treatment as soon as you have been diagnosed in order to prevent further visual deterioration.

The most common treatment for open angle glaucoma is medicated eye drops. For those in the early stages of open angle glaucoma, eye drops can help reduce eye pressure to a desired level.

In patients with more advanced glaucoma, laser surgery is an effective and minimally invasive treatment option. These eye procedures may also help to decrease or eliminate the need for eye drops. For patients with the most advanced disease, glaucoma surgery may be needed.

Our expert eye surgeons perform the following laser surgery treatments on patients with open angle glaucoma:

• Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT):These procedures are most often used in patients with primary open angle glaucoma and work to open passage canals to increase fluid drainage.
• Endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP): This laser treatment works to alleviate intraocular eye pressure by decreasing the production of fluid within the eye.