Glaucoma
is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and its prevalence
will continue to increase as our population ages. For most patients, the
initial treatment for glaucoma will begin with eye drops or laser treatment, or
even both. Patients often have a difficult time adhering to a schedule of
single or even multiple doses of eye drops and thus find an initial laser
treatment beneficial. Sometimes even with eye drops and laser treatment for
glaucoma it is not possible to lower the intraocular pressure enough to reduce
the risk of vision loss. For these patients there has been the next step of
complex incisional glaucoma surgery. Recent advances in Minimally Invasive
Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) using microscopic stents has been shown to provide excellent
results for many glaucoma patients. Reports in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery of patients who had
iStent-a tiny titanium stent-implanted through a microscopic incision, had
excellent pressure lowering and even were able to reduce their need for eye
drops! The data shared was from a long term 5 year clinical study and offers
great promise for glaucoma patients.
The
best way to prevent vision loss from glaucoma is by having regular eye exams
and glaucoma testing as recommended by your eye doctor. Schedule an eye exam at Center
for Sight 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver.
Center for Sight is conveniently located
at 1565
North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from
Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
