Glaucoma can be easily detected during a regular eye examination. Because early detection is the key to treatment, having regular checkups is all the more important if you are in a high-risk group.

We employ a number of tests to make a diagnosis. They include:

      • A pressure check done during your yearly exam to evaluate the pressure on your optic nerve.
      • Dilating pupils so we can exam your optic nerve.
      • A visual field exam to determine whether there is any loss of peripheral vision.
      • An HRT exam that uses a laser scanner to painlessly and non-invasively evaluate your optic nerve.
      • Stereo disc photos that compare the optic nerve year-to-year if there is suspicion of the development of glaucoma.
      • Corneal pachymetry that tests the thickness of the cornea.

Treatments

Which of the latest glaucoma medications or surgical technologies used by Drs. Bowden and Ume to treat your glaucoma depends on the type of glaucoma you have and the severity of your case. Eye drops with medication aimed at lowering optic pressure to control your glaucoma usually are tried first.

However, for some patients the effectiveness of medications and eye drops may lessen over time, while for others there are unpleasant side effects, and because glaucoma often is painless, many patients become careless about the strict use of their medications. In fact, non-compliance with a program of prescribed glaucoma medications is a major reason for blindness caused by the disease.

Glaucoma Surgery

When medications aren’t effective and surgery becomes necessary, be assured that Bowden Eye Associates employs the latest, safest, most effective technologies available. They include:

      • Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a surgery done in the office using short bursts of energy to reduce pressure on the optic nerve in patients with primary open angle glaucoma. It may reduce dependence on drops and can be safely repeated many times.
      • The Ahmed Shunt is a drainage devise implanted in the eye to treat more complicated cases of glaucoma by creating a better flow of the fluid that puts pressure on the optic nerve. The procedure is performed in our outpatient surgery center.
      • Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI) is a revolutionary laser treatment that creates an opening in the eye’s iris that increases the flow of liquid, thereby decreasing pressure. Done in the office with topical anesthetic drops, it’s used almost exclusively for patients with narrow angles and narrow angle glaucoma, or acute angle and closure glaucoma.