Glaucoma Care Durango, CO
One of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60 is glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that endangers one’s vision by causing damage to the optic nerve.
If you have high eye pressure, a thin cornea, a family history of glaucoma, are age 60 or older, or an African American age 40 and older, you are at high risk for glaucoma and should have a dilated eye examination at least twice a year.
The board-certified ophthalmologists at Southwest Eye Consultants in Durango, Colorado and Farmington, New Mexico provide comprehensive diagnostic testing to detect and treat glaucoma.
Glaucoma Diagnostic Testing Options
- Tonometry – This test uses a special device that measures the pressure inside the eye. First, eye drops are used to numb the eye, and then a small amount of pressure is applied to the eye to measure the intraocular pressure.
- Ophthalmoscopy – This is a test in which the doctor uses a special instrument to examine the interior of your eye for any damage to the optic nerve by looking through the pupil.
- Perimetry – This test maps your complete field of vision to help determine if it has been affected by glaucoma. The doctor asks you to look straight ahead and then indicate when a moving light passes through your peripheral (side) vision.
- Gonioscopy – This exam enables your doctor to view the front part of the eye to determine if the iris is closer than normal to the back of the cornea. If the angle between the iris and cornea is closed and blocked, it is a possible indication of acute or chronic angle closure glaucoma. If the angle is wide and open, it is a possible indication of open-angle, chronic glaucoma.
- Pachymetry – In this test, your eye doctor uses an ultrasonic wave instrument to determine the thickness of your cornea and better evaluate eye pressure.
- Optic nerve imaging – This helps document optic nerve changes over time.
- Electroretinography (ERG) – This test measures the electrical response of light-sensitive cells (rods and cones) in your eye. It helps your ophthalmologist understand the health of your eye.
All of these techniques are painless and noninvasive, and may be used by your doctor depending on your glaucoma condition.
If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, Southwest Eye Consultants offers the most advanced glaucoma surgery or glaucoma laser treatment available in the Four Corners region.
Glaucoma Treatment
Initial pressure-reducing treatment is applied via eye drops. Your ophthalmologist will tailor the medications you receive upon your systemic health and response to treatment.
- Selective Laser Treatment (SLT) – Often a first-line approach, SLT is employed to lower the eye's pressure without use of daily drop administration. This laser can be repeated as needed.
- Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) – Multiple minimally invasive techniques are now available to surgically lower your eye pressure. This approach is applied when medical and laser treatments fail.
For Comprehensive Glaucoma Treatment, Contact Our Ophthalmologists in Durango & Cortez, CO and Farmington, NM
To learn more about our glaucoma care and treatment, contact Southwest Eye Consultants today at (970) 828- 2200 and schedule an appointment with one of our ophthalmologists or you can request one online.
