We may perform a number of tests in order to provide you with early detection and make the most accurate diagnosis of glaucoma. These include the following:

  • Tonometry-Intraocular Pressure (IOP) measurement.
  • Ophthalmoscopy-Examination of the optic nerve through a dilated pupil. Optic nerve exams can be performed using special instruments or a high magnification lens with the Slit Lamp.
  • Visual Field Perimetry-A computerized examination to plot an actual map of the field of your vision.
  • Gonioscopy-Direct examination of the drainage structure of your eye-trabecular meshwork-using a specialized contact lens.
  • Imaging of Optic Nerve & Fibers-OCT uses a method called “optical coherence tomography” to creates digital images with beams of light to examine the optic nerve and measure the retinal nerve fiber thickness.
  • Pachymetry Measurement of Corneal Thickness.

Treatment of Glaucoma
There are three main methods that we use to treat glaucoma include medical, laser and surgical treatments.

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma is at first most often treated with eye drops. By using one or two types of glaucoma eye drops most patients are able to achieve a stable and lowered eye pressure. Some patients are unable to achieve adequate control with eye drops alone, or may experience intolerable side effects from the eye drops, and do better with an in office glaucoma laser treatment to maintain control.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a type of glaucoma laser treatment that helps to reduce the Intraocular Pressure (IOP) by creating more effective drainage of fluid through the trabecular meshwork. We perform this painless procedure in the comfort of our office and often patients are able to obtain good stability but also reduce the number or frequency of eye drop instillation.

For some patients even with the maximum eye drop medical therapy and glaucoma laser treatment it is still not possible to achieve good stable control of their disease and stop the progression of vision loss. For these patients glaucoma surgery may be an option and can include removing a tiny piece of the trabecular meshwork, or even implanting a microscopic tubes, shunts, valves or stents to help reduce and stabilize the Intraocular Pressure (IOP) and prevent vision loss.