Glaucoma Treatment

offered in St. Croix Falls, Frederic and Webster, WI

Glaucoma Treatment services offered in St. Croix Falls, Frederic and Webster, WI

It’s crucial to enroll in glaucoma treatment if you’re one of the up to 3 million Americans with glaucoma. There’s no cure for glaucoma, but intervention can preserve your vision and prevent it from worsening. At St. Croix Falls Eye Associates, in St. Croix Falls, Webster, and Frederic, Wisconsin, licensed optometrists Lawrence Tran, OD, and Sandra Dolphin, OD, offer several types of glaucoma treatment, including eye drops, prescription medication, and laser therapy. Call the nearest office today to receive glaucoma treatment, or book your appointment online.

Glaucoma Treatment Q & A

What is glaucoma treatment?

Glaucoma treatment is an optometry subspecialty focused on glaucoma –– a group of eye diseases that cause high intraocular pressure and damage to the optic nerves.

Your optic nerves collect visual information from your eyes and send it to your brain. But if the nerves get damaged, it results in vision loss. Early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma are vital to preventing it from worsening.

Are there different types of glaucoma?

The St. Croix Falls Eye Associates team treats the most common types of glaucoma, including:

Open-angle glaucoma

This type of glaucoma prevents the fluid at the back of your eyes from draining properly. As the fluid builds up, it places pressure on your optic nerve, causing damage.

Angle-closure glaucoma

This type of glaucoma causes your iris to bulge outward, interfering with fluid drainage. As more fluid builds up, it damages your optic nerve.

Normal tension glaucoma

Normal tension glaucoma occurs when your iris doesn’t receive adequate blood flow. You’re more likely to have this type if you have high cholesterol or heart disease.

Who can benefit from glaucoma treatment?

You should request glaucoma treatment if you have any of the following symptoms:

Eye pain
Severe headaches
Blind spots in your peripheral (side) vision
Eye redness
Halos or colored rings around lights
Blurred vision

Some people with glaucoma don’t experience any symptoms. If you have a family history of glaucoma or a potential risk factor (like high blood pressure), it’s important to get screened.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Your St. Croix Falls Eye Associates provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes an eye exam. They measure your intraocular pressure, order diagnostic imaging to check for optic nerve damage, and inspect the drainage angles at the back of your eye.

What does glaucoma treatment involve?

There’s no cure for glaucoma, but there are steps you can take to help slow its progression and prevent vision loss. St. Croix Falls Eye Associates may recommend:

Prescription eye drops to decrease intraocular pressure
Beta-blockers to reduce the production of fluid in your eyes
Rho kinase inhibitors to decrease eye pressure
Miotic or cholinergic agents to increase the outflow of fluid from your eyes
Laser therapy
Drainage tubes

If these measures don’t provide lasting relief, your provider may recommend minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. Surgery can help lower your eye pressure and relieve uncomfortable symptoms.

Call today to explore the benefits of glaucoma treatment, or book your appointment online.