Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment
The front of the eye continually produces a fluid called aqueous humor, and a healthy eye maintains consistent internal pressure by draining it at the same rate. When drainage slows or becomes blocked, pressure rises and can lead to glaucoma. There are several types of glaucoma, with open-angle and closed-angle being the two most common.
Request an AppointmentOpen-Angle Glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease and becomes more likely with advancing age. Pressure gradually increases in the eye, causing progressive damage to the optic nerve over time. Because there are typically no symptoms in early stages — earning it the nickname “silent blindness” — peripheral vision is usually the first to deteriorate, followed by blank spots as the disease advances. Left untreated, it eventually leads to blindness. Early diagnosis and treatment offer the best protection against serious vision loss.
Risk factors for chronic open-angle glaucoma include:
- Advanced age
- Family history of the disease
- Higher-than-normal intraocular pressure
- Certain ethnic backgrounds, particularly African descent
- Certain conditions, especially diabetes, farsightedness, nearsightedness, or previous eye trauma or surgery
Closed-Angle Glaucoma
Closed-angle glaucoma is less common but is considered a medical emergency. It occurs when the iris moves or dilates and blocks the eye’s drainage channels, requiring immediate attention from an ophthalmologist to avoid vision loss.
Symptoms of closed-angle glaucoma include:
- Severe eye pain
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rainbow halos around lights
High risk factors for closed-angle glaucoma include:
- Extreme farsightedness
- An iris that is abnormally large or positioned far back in the eye
- Advanced age
- Heredity
- Certain ethnic backgrounds, particularly Asian descent
- Waking with dull headaches after sleeping
Treatment Options
A wide range of treatments exist, including medication, laser surgery, and incisional surgery. The right approach — or combination — depends on your type of glaucoma and specific case. Prescription eye drops help reduce intraocular pressure, while oral medications called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors slow fluid production within the eye.
Laser surgery is a common treatment option as well. For open-angle glaucoma, trabeculoplasty is a painless laser procedure that uses light to shrink and stretch eye tissue, improving drainage. Cyclophotocoagulation is another non-invasive laser option that reduces fluid production to lower eye pressure — our practice was among the first on the Northshore to utilize the Iridex laser for this procedure. For closed-angle cases where the iris blocks drainage, a laser iridotomy may be performed.
Traditional surgical options include trabeculectomy and aqueous drainage implants, where a small flap and reservoir are created to allow fluid to drain and disperse, reducing pressure. Newer options include canaloplasty, trabeculotomy, and drainage stents such as the OMNI system, Kahook blade, and iStent — our practice was also among the first on the Northshore to offer OMNI and iStent procedures.
If you’re experiencing any symptoms of glaucoma, or have risk factors above, contact Louisiana Eye Specialists at to schedule a consultation. Glaucoma monitoring is also an important part of care for patients undergoing cataract evaluation, since both conditions can occur together.
Request an AppointmentGlaucoma FAQs
Can glaucoma be cured?
There is no cure, but treatment can effectively control eye pressure and slow or prevent further vision loss when caught early.
Why is open-angle glaucoma called “silent blindness”?
Because it typically causes no symptoms in its early stages, vision loss can progress unnoticed until it becomes advanced.
Is closed-angle glaucoma an emergency?
Yes. It can cause sudden, severe vision loss and requires immediate treatment to relieve eye pressure.
How is glaucoma diagnosed?
Through a comprehensive eye exam that measures eye pressure, examines the optic nerve, and may include imaging or visual field testing.
Will I need surgery for glaucoma?
Not always. Many patients are managed successfully with eye drops or laser treatment, with surgery reserved for more advanced or unresponsive cases.
Can glaucoma and cataracts be treated at the same time?
In some cases, yes. We evaluate both conditions together to determine the safest and most effective treatment sequence.