News from Wilkinson Eye Center

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. In the early stages of the disease, there may be no symptoms. Experts estimate that half of the people affected by glaucoma may not know they have it.

Glaucoma causes vision loss by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve acts like an electric cable with over a million wires. It is responsible for carrying images from the eye to Eye1

the brain.

There is no cure for glaucoma-yet. However, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. The appropriate treatment depends upon the type of glaucoma among other factors. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease.

It was once thought that high pressure within the eye, also known as intraocular pressure or IOP, is the main cause of this optic nerve damage. Although IOP is clearly a risk factor, we now know that other factors must also be involved because even people with "normal" levels of pressure can experience vision loss from glaucoma.

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

This is the most common form of glaucoma. The eye's drainage canals become clogged over time, causing the inner eye pressure (also called intraocular pressure or IOP) to rise because the correct amount of fluid can't drain out of the eye.

Most people have no symptoms and no early warning signs. If not diagnosed and treated, it can cause a gradual loss of vision. This type of glaucoma develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable sight loss for many years. It usually responds well to medication, especially if caught early and treated.

There are generally three options available for Eye1

management of your glaucoma: eye drop medication, laser treatment, or surgery.

The most commonly prescribed option is eye drop medication; the disadvantages to this can be compliance (forgetting to take the drops), side effects, and cost. However, there are a number of generic options available at less cost that may work for you. Check with your pharmacy for formulary alternatives. If your prescribed drop is too expensive your doctor may be able to prescribe an alternative.

Another option is SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty). This is a safe alternative that works very well in most patients. SLT is lower-cost as it is covered by most insurances.

The third option, surgery, is usually reserved as a "final resort" as it is more invasive. This is covered by most insurances.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)

SLT is a type of laser surgery that uses a combination of frequencies allowing the laser to work at very low levels. It treats specific cells "selectively" and leaves untreated portions of the trabecular meshwork (the mesh-like drainage canals surrounding the iris) intact. For this reason, it is believed that SLT, unlike other types of laser surgery, may be safely repeated many times. SLT may also be an alternative for those who have been treated unsuccessfully with traditional laser surgery or with pressure-lowering eye drops.

SLT may be for you if you:
· are in search of other treatment options.
· do not take your eye drop medication as prescribed by your doctor due to forgetfulness and/or side effects.
· want to reduce or eliminate your need to take eye drop medication.
· want to reduce or eliminate the often significant expense of eye drop medication.
Eye2

Why choose SLT?
· SLT is FDA approved.
· SLT can provide long-term control of eye pressure.
· SLT typically takes a few moments and the majority of patients describe it as painless.
· SLT does not cause long-term side effects associated with eye drop medication, such as inflammation and redness of the eyes.
· SLT may reduce or eliminate your need to take eye drop medication.
· SLT is typically covered by Medicare and other medical insurance carriers.

At your next eye appointment, ask your technician about SLT or other lower-cost alternatives for managing your glaucoma.

Informational resources:
Glaucoma Research Foundation (www.glaucoma.org)

American Academy of Ophthalmology (www.aao.org)

American Glaucoma Society (www.glaucomaweb.org)