Images are captured by your eyes and sent to your brain. This transmission is made possible thanks to the optic nerve. Each eye has one optic nerve, which is why they are so important: without the optic nerve, you have no vision.
Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects and progressively damages the optic nerve.
Your eyes continuously produce fluid (aqueous humor). This fluid is drained through a type of filter located at the base of your eyes (the trabecular meshwork). When these filters become clogged, the fluid accumulates in your eyes and increases internal pressure, as each eye is enclosed in a transparent sac. This increased internal pressure then presses on the optic nerve.
The issue is that this condition can remain asymptomatic (without noticeable symptoms) for a long time. This makes glaucoma so dangerous, as it progresses without you realizing it.
Even if your eye pressure seems normal, you can still develop glaucoma, especially if there is an abnormality in the optic nerve, if you are diabetic, or if you regularly use cortisone. Additionally, glaucoma is hereditary and more common in people of African and Asian descent.
At I CARE, we recommend regular eye check-ups, which include measuring eye pressure, inspecting the optic nerve, and performing a visual field test.
To properly treat glaucoma, we need to clean the filter (trabecular meshwork) at the base of each eye, even if only one eye is affected. It is essential to preserve the healthy eye as much as possible. Once the filters are cleaned, the fluid will drain normally again, reducing the internal pressure on the optic nerve.
At I CARE, we use the SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) treatment.
This treatment can be performed from the day your glaucoma is diagnosed, meaning that only one appointment is needed to treat both eyes immediately.
The procedure takes place in the examination room (it is not a surgery). First, you will receive numbing eye drops, after which Dr. Yeh will place a type of magnifying lens and gel on your eyes. Using a laser, Dr. Yeh treats each eye for 30 seconds. Finally, she rinses your eyes, and you can leave the clinic right away. You are allowed to drive yourself after the treatment.
The desired results are typically achieved after about 3 months.
After your SLT treatment, you will need to use 3 anti-inflammatory eye drops in each eye, 3 times a day, for one week.
If you have a more severe form of glaucoma, you may be prescribed other ophthalmic eye drops until your next check-up.
Depending on the case, you will need to return after 3 or 6 months. After that, appointments will be scheduled according to your specific needs.