Glaucoma Specialist

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma refers to a group of disorders that result in abnormally high eye pressure. Over time, this increased pressure damages your optic nerve, resulting in vision loss and ultimately, blindness.

Anyone can develop glaucoma, but it’s especially common in people aged 60 and older. Glaucoma doesn’t always present symptoms, so you might be at risk and not realize it. 

It’s impossible to reverse the damage caused by glaucoma, so early intervention matters. If Dr. Bhatt determines you’re at risk, he can recommend treatments to slow down or prevent vision loss.

What are the types of glaucoma?

There are many types of glaucoma, but two of the most common are:

Open-angle glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma occurs when your trabecular meshwork –– a tissue at the back of your eye responsible for regulating its pressure –– becomes partially clogged. If the fluid is unable to drain from your eye, pressure begins to build. Over time, the pressure slowly increases, damaging your optic nerve and resulting in vision loss.

Angle-closure glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when your iris bulges forward, crowding or narrowing the trabecular meshwork. When this happens, fluid can’t circulate through your eye and drain naturally, resulting in a build-up of pressure. If your anterior chamber has a narrow drainage angle, you’re more likely to experience angle-closure glaucoma.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

To diagnose glaucoma, Dr. Bhatt conducts a comprehensive eye exam and reviews your vision health history. He then measures your intraocular pressure, tests your optic nerve for damage, inspects your drainage angles, and measures your corneal thickness. When combined, these measures help Dr. Bhatt determine if you’re at risk.

How is glaucoma treated?

Treatment of glaucoma depends on the type you have and the severity of your symptoms. If Dr. Bhatt detects glaucoma early on, he might recommend regular checkups and prescription eye drops. Eye drops help decrease eye pressure by decreasing the amount of fluid your eye produces.

If you have a serious case of glaucoma, surgical intervention may be necessary. Dr. Bhatt performs all varieties of glaucoma surgery and laser on-site, including:

• Laser Iridotomy
• Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
• Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery
• Canaloplasty and Vasodilation with the OMNI® Surgical System
• Goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade®
• iStent® Inject
• Xen® gel stent implantation
• Baerveldt® glaucoma implants
• Ahmed® glaucoma implants
• Trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C
• Micropulse cyclophotocoagulation

Following a comprehensive eye exam and a discussion of your symptoms and goals for treatment, Dr. Bhatt can make recommendations that align with your needs.

To receive treatment for glaucoma, request a consultation at Orange County Cataract and Glaucoma. Book online to schedule an appointment or call the office today.