Glaucoma Surgery in Fort Myers
If you live or work in Fort Myers and have been diagnosed with glaucoma, you may be considering glaucoma surgery. Loss of vision from glaucoma is preventable if you get treatment early enough, and Elmquist Eye Group can help you explore the treatment options.
Dr. E. Trevor Elmquist, founder of Elmquist Eye Group, is an experienced eye surgeon and has been named as one of America’s Top Doctors in ophthalmology by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., which places him among the top 1% of ophthalmologists in the nation.
His partner, Kate Wagner, OD, and associate, Nina Burt, OD, are board certified optometrists who provide complete eye care services in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida for everyone in the family, from children to seniors.
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, especially for older people. However, Elmquist Eye Group offers both non-surgical and state-of-the-art laser and surgical options to treat the disease.
Glaucoma Surgery
Laser surgery can be very effective in the treatment of glaucoma because there is no cutting involved. For open-angle glaucoma, the most common procedure is trabeculoplasty in which the surgeon uses the laser beam to make small changes in the eye’s drainage system to allow fluid to flow more easily and reduce the intraocular pressure.
Individuals with closed-angle glaucoma may benefit from another type of laser surgery called a peripheral iridotomy. The surgeon creates a tiny hole in the iris (colored part of the eye) to equalize the pressure in front of and behind the iris. This causes the iris to move away from the closed drainage angle, allowing fluid to drain normally.
Sometimes conventional glaucoma surgery may be necessary. Trabeculectomy, often called filtration surgery, is used to treat both open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma. This is normally an outpatient procedure which is performed under general anesthesia and takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Common Questions about Glaucoma
- Is glaucoma caused by increased eye pressure?
No. Increased eye pressure puts you at greater risk for glaucoma, but does not mean that you have the disease. Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve located at the back of the eye. A person has glaucoma only if the optic nerve is damaged. Many people with high eye pressure never develop the disease. And some people develop glaucoma even when their eye pressure is normal.
- Can a person have glaucoma and not know it?
Yes. In the early stages of open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease, there is usually no pain or other warning signs. As the disease progresses, however, you may notice changes in your peripheral (side) vision. Unfortunately, vision loss from glaucoma is permanent, so early detection is very important.
- Does glaucoma run in families?
Glaucoma appears to run in families and may be inherited. If someone in your immediate family has glaucoma, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye examination every one to two years.
- How is glaucoma detected?
Comprehensive dilated eye exams are the best way to detect glaucoma. A glaucoma screenings that checks only the pressure of the eye is not sufficient. At Elmquist Eye Group, we dilate the pupil of your eye to examine your optic nerve. We may also inspect the drainage structure of your eye, analyze the optic nerve by means of a scanning laser, take optic nerve photos, measure the corneal thickness, and test the visual fields of each eye.
The dedicated team at Elmquist Eye Group will assist you throughout your glaucoma treatment, informing and educating you while doing our best to save or improve your vision.
For answers to your questions about glaucoma surgery in Fort Myers, get in touch with Elmquist Eye Group today at (239) 936-2020 and schedule an appointment. The Elmquist team will be delighted to help.