Glaucoma Services

A glaucoma service refers to a specialized healthcare service focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often due to high intraocular pressure (IOP). Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness if left untreated, but with proper management, vision loss can often be prevented.

Key components of a glaucoma service:

Diagnosis and Screening which is includes tests for intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field testing, and assessment of the optic nerve, tonometry which is test to measure the IOP in the eye, ophthalmoscopy is a detailed examination of the optic nerve head to detect damage, visual field testing is to detect any blind spots in the peripheral vision that might indicate glaucoma, gonioscopy is a test to examine the drainage angle of the eye, important for diagnosing certain types of glaucoma (e.g., angle-closure glaucoma). 

 

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is non-invasive imaging that measures the thickness of the optic nerve fibers and can help detect early signs of damage.

 

Medical Treatment of glaucoma is Eye drops: 

The first line of treatment for glaucoma, designed to lower intraocular pressure, oral medications is In some cases, medications like carbonic anhydrase inhibitors may be prescribed to reduce IOP and Combination therapies sometimes, a combination of eye drops or oral medications is used to control IOP more effectively, laser treatment is laser trabeculoplasty is a  procedure used to increase the outflow of fluid from the eye in open-angle glaucoma and laser iridotomy or iridoplasty is used for angle-closure glaucoma to improve fluid drainage and selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a newer type of laser treatment aimed at reducing IOP with fewer side effects.

 

Surgical Treatment which trabeculectomy is a surgery that creates a new drainage channel for fluid in the eye to lower IOP and glaucoma drainage devices is Implanted to help drain excess fluid from the eye and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is a newer type of surgery that is less invasive than traditional methods, designed to lower IOP with fewer risks.

 

Ongoing Monitoring and Follow-Up is regular eye exams is to monitor IOP, optic nerve health, and visual fields.Patient education: Ensuring patients understand the importance of medication adherence and monitoring.

 

Multidisciplinary Approach is glaucoma services often involve a team of healthcare professionals including ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, and technicians who work together to provide comprehensive care.

Importance of Glaucoma Services:

Regular screening and early intervention are essential, as glaucoma can progress without noticeable symptoms until significant vision loss has occurred. Therefore, glaucoma services are crucial in preventing blindness and ensuring that those with the condition maintain the best possible quality of life.