What Happens After a Glaucoma Diagnosis?
Post by: Chicago Eye Consultants
Being diagnosed with glaucoma can feel overwhelming, especially because most patients have not noticed any changes in their vision. At our location in Stickney, we help patients understand their diagnosis and create a personalized plan that may include monitoring, prescription medication, Direct Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, or glaucoma surgery.
The goal is not simply to lower eye pressure once. Effective glaucoma care requires controlling pressure over time and regularly checking whether the optic nerve remains stable.
Understanding Your Glaucoma Test Results
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Elevated eye pressure is an important risk factor, but it is only one part of the diagnosis.
Your ophthalmologist may also evaluate:
- The appearance and health of the optic nerve
- Peripheral vision test results
- The thickness of the cornea
- The structure of the eye’s drainage system
- Changes detected during previous examinations
These findings help determine the type and severity of glaucoma, as well as the amount of pressure reduction needed to protect your vision.
Setting a Target Eye Pressure
After glaucoma is diagnosed, your ophthalmologist may establish a target eye pressure. This is the pressure range considered appropriate for reducing the risk of additional optic nerve damage.
The target is different for every patient. Someone with early glaucoma may have different treatment needs than a patient who has already experienced significant vision loss. Age, overall eye health, previous treatment, and the rate of disease progression can also influence the recommendation.
Choosing an Initial Treatment
Prescription eye drops are effective for many patients, but they must be used consistently. Missed doses, side effects, medication costs, and difficulty administering drops can interfere with treatment.
For certain patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, laser treatment may be considered as an initial option. Direct Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, or DSLT, offers an automated, noncontact method of improving the eye’s natural drainage system.
Unlike traditional SLT, DSLT does not require a specialized lens to be placed on the surface of the eye. Advanced imaging and eye tracking technology identify the treatment area and guide the delivery of laser energy.
Potential benefits of DSLT include:
- No incisions or stitches
- No contact with the eye’s surface
- A brief outpatient treatment
- Minimal disruption to normal activities
- Reduced reliance on daily medication for some patients
Some patients will still need glaucoma drops after DSLT. The response to treatment must be measured during follow up examinations.
Continuing Care After Treatment
Glaucoma treatment does not end after a laser procedure or prescription. Your ophthalmologist will continue monitoring your eye pressure, optic nerve, and peripheral vision to determine whether the disease remains stable.
If glaucoma progresses, the treatment plan may be adjusted. Additional options may include medication, Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, traditional glaucoma surgery, or a combination of treatments.
Regular follow up care is essential because glaucoma can continue to progress without causing noticeable symptoms.
Protecting Your Vision Over Time
A glaucoma diagnosis does not automatically mean that significant vision loss will occur. Early detection, appropriate treatment, and ongoing monitoring can help protect the sight you have.
Your ophthalmologist can determine whether DSLT or another treatment is appropriate based on your individual test results and treatment goals. Call us today to book your exam.
