Glaucoma Treatment

Talk to your doctor about your glaucoma treatment needs

Dr. Winthrop will recommend a glaucoma treatment program based on your clinical profile and needs. Depending on how high your eye pressure is and how long you have had glaucoma, Dr. Winthrop may recommend a combination of glaucoma treatments. If you have difficulty remembering to take your medication, it is important to note. It is also important to discuss other medications or pills you may be taking for heart disease, diabetes, asthma or other medical conditions.

Glaucoma eye drop medications

Glaucoma eye drop medications are the most common treatments for high eye pressure and glaucoma. When taken as directed, glaucoma eye drops reduce high eye pressure by either decreasing the amount of fluid created within the eye or by helping the fluid drain from the eye.

Glaucoma eye drop medications can be absorbed into your system and may interfere with other types of medication you are taking. If you are taking other medications or pills for heart disease, diabetes, asthma or other medical conditions, it is important to tell your eye doctor.

What happens if I skip a dose of my glaucoma medication?

If you have been prescribed glaucoma eye drops, you must follow the directions very carefully. You may be tempted to skip doses because of side effects, difficulty in getting the drops in your eyes, cost, forgetfulness or lack of symptoms. If you do not take your glaucoma medication exactly as directed by your eye doctor, your eye pressure may suddenly rise and fall. These changes in eye pressure can be dangerous to your eyesight and may increase your risk of vision loss caused by glaucoma.

iStent: a new treatment for glaucoma

If you have glaucoma and cataracts, iStent is designed to improve your eye’s natural fluid outflow to safely lower eye pressure by creating a permanent opening in the trabecular meshwork. Proven safe and effective, the iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass is a surgical therapy that:
• Is safely implanted during cataract surgery
• Spares important eye tissue that is often damaged by traditional surgeries
• Does not limit treatment options that could help maintain your vision in the future

iStent is the smallest medical device ever approved by the FDA and is placed in your eye during cataract surgery. It is so small, you won’t be able to see or feel it after the procedure is over. By creating a permanent opening in your trabecular meshwork, iStent is designed to improve the outflow of fluid from your eyes and help control eye pressure.
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Glaucoma surgery

There are several types of glaucoma surgery, including trabeculotomy and minimally invasive surgical options. Dr. Winthrop may recommend a surgical procedure if your eye pressure is not under control with your current treatments, or if he would like to reduce your need to take glaucoma eye drop medications.

Possible side effects of glaucoma surgery include cataract, problems with the cornea, and infection or inflammation inside of the eye.