Glaucoma Treatment in Irwin

Glaucoma Treatment in Irwin

Don’t Let Glaucoma Rob You of Your Sight

(724) 864-7777

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness.

It's caused by fluid build-up and increased pressure within the eye that damages the optic nerve that progressively worsens your vision. This disease can cause severe, irreversible vision loss if left untreated.

In many cases, appropriate control and treatment can help prevent further damage to the eyes and protect your vision. Your Family Eye Doctors - North Huntingdon offers several treatments to help address glaucoma. Learn more about the treatments we provide and contact us to schedule an appointment.

Glaucoma diagnosis


The 2 Main Types of Glaucoma

grandfather wearing glasses holding his granddaughter

  • Open-angle glaucoma: the most common type. It is a lifelong condition that accounts for at least 90% of all glaucoma cases.
  • Angle-closure glaucoma: a rare form of the disease which requires immediate medical attention. It occurs when the angle is closed in many or most areas between the iris and cornea, which reduces fluid drainage and increases eye pressure.

Glaucoma: The Sneaky Thief of Sight

There is a reason glaucoma is called “the sneaky thief of sight”--half the people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it! Meaning, they may not have symptoms in the early stages.

At Your Family Eye Doctors - North Huntingdon, we diagnose and help preserve your vision with cutting-edge glaucoma treatments that can slow the progression of the disease.

If you have a family history of glaucoma or have been diagnosed with glaucoma, contact us today.

optometrist in Irwin


What are the Signs of Glaucoma?

glaucoma signs

As mentioned earlier, glaucoma usually shows no symptoms in its early stages. When signs do manifest, it's usually loss of tunnel vision or peripheral vision. Unfortunately, by the time vision loss has occurred, it cannot be reversed.

That said, the less common angle-closure glaucoma does show a sudden onset of symptoms, including:

  • Extreme eye pain
  • Eye redness
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek prompt diagnosis and treatment by contacting Your Family Eye Doctors - North Huntingdon in Irwin or visiting your nearest emergency room.


Who's at Risk for Glaucoma?

  • Age 40 +

    The prevalence of glaucoma increases with age, with most glaucoma patients aged 40 and up. That said, there is a much rarer form of this disease (congenital glaucoma) that affects infants.

  • Family History & Ethnicity

    Your risk for developing glaucoma is higher if you have a family history of the disease. Those of African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American, and Indigenous Canadian descent have a higher risk of developing this disease.

  • Other Conditions

    High myopia, hypertension and diabetes can increase the risk of developing glaucoma.

  • Eye Injury or Trauma

    An eye injury, trauma or eye surgery can increase the likelihood of developing glaucoma.


Common Glaucoma Treatments

There is currently no cure for glaucoma. However, several treatments are available to prevent the progression of this sight-robbing condition. With the right care, you have a higher chance of managing your glaucoma and preserving your vision.

Common treatments include:

Eye Drops

Your optometrist will prescribe eye drops to help regulate pressure inside the eye by decreasing fluid production and/or improving drainage.

Laser Surgery

If eye drops aren’t doing enough to reduce intraocular pressure or intraocular temperature in open-angle glaucoma, laser surgery may be an option. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) opens up the drainage system in the eye to reduce pressure.

SLT is successful in 80% of cases and can reduce eye pressure by 20%.

Other Surgeries

If a laser procedure or eye drops do not lower eye pressure to the desired level, your eye doctor may recommend one of the following surgeries:

  • Incision Surgery
  • Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
  • Glaucoma Drainage Implants

Glaucoma Testing Treatment FAQs

How does an eye doctor diagnose glaucoma?

Since glaucoma has no side effects early on, it is essential for people with a family history of risk factors for glaucoma to get tested. The following tests diagnose glaucoma:

  • Tonometry: measures the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure or IOP)
  • Ophthalmoscopy (dilated eye exam): examines the shape and color of the optic nerve
  • Perimetry: measures your field of vision
  • Gonioscopy: checks the angle where the iris meets the cornea
  • Pachymetry: determines the thickness of the cornea to better evaluate eye pressure.
What foods should you avoid if you have glaucoma?

The following are the foods every glaucoma patient should consider avoiding immediately. It should help keep your optic nerve healthy and minimize eye pressure.

  • Caffeine - certain studies show that caffeine contributes to increased intraocular pressure.
  • Saturated fats - a diet high in saturated fats can lead to weight gain, which not only increases intraocular pressure but also cholesterol levels.
  • Trans fats - try to limit your consumption of trans fats because they can also raise cholesterol levels
  • Salt - make sure to consume salt sparingly, as increased blood pressure can indirectly lead to intraocular pressure.
What percentage of glaucoma patients go blind?

About 60% of patients diagnosed with glaucoma will eventually lose some vision.

However, the rate of legal blindness among glaucoma patients is 5%. Getting effective treatment early on will greatly increase your ability to preserve and maximize your vision.

Patient Reviews
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235 Reviews
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- Oct. 22, 2024
No waiting smooth process thorough Dr exam. Perfectly uneventful.
- Oct. 19, 2024
Nice office. Clean and bright. Very helpful staff.
- Sep. 26, 2024
Dr Campana is very friendly, courteous, knowledgeable and thorough. He always takes time to explain... everything and answer any questions I may have.
- Sep. 20, 2024
Wonderfully professional and knowledgeable people!
- May. 24, 2024
Excellent experience! Dr. Maggie Nikituk was wonderful…she was very knowledgeable, friendly, answe... red all of my questions, on time, and provided a great experience overall. I highly recommend this office and Dr. Nikituk as an Optometrist. You can tell she truly cares about her patients and she provides a comfortable atmosphere for everyone!
- May. 09, 2024
Dr. Campana and staff are fantastic - very friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. I feel very co... mfortable asking questions and expressing concerns without feeling rushed.
- Mar. 22, 2024
Dr Campana is the absolute best as well as his staff! Everyone is so kind and professional! I would ... recommend this office to anyone looking for eye care!
- Mar. 01, 2024
Quick and precise. Friendly and professional. Glasses a week later.
- Feb. 01, 2024
Great experience. Efficient & quick process from start to finish! Staff was nice & welcoming! Small ... selection of glasses but a vast array of different styles to choose from!
- Jan. 18, 2024
Very customer friendly!
- Dec. 30, 2023
I highly recommend using the services of Your Family Eye group in N. Huntingdon. Every employee I de... alt with during my exam was professional and knowledgeable.
- Dec. 30, 2023
Awesome care!
- Dec. 16, 2023
Very friendly and caring employees at fair prices for glasses and contacts
- Nov. 14, 2023
Very professional & thorough! I feel I am getting the ultimate care for my vision
- Oct. 08, 2023
Dr Ron and the staff are the best!
- Sep. 14, 2023
Great staff. Awesome doctor!
- Jul. 29, 2023
My symptoms were taken seriously, and I was examined thoroughly within a couple of hours after I ca... lled. Never a bad experience here!
- Jul. 21, 2023
Friendly staff
- Jul. 07, 2023
Dr. Nikituk was awesome. So helpful with my dry eye issues. Inserted punctal plugs at my last vist. ... Huge improvement. The staff is great and I've always received great service and care with exams and eyeglasses
- Jun. 30, 2023
I had metal in my eye from a work injury. The staff got me in to see the doctor right away. The ... doctor repaired my eye within minutes of my arrival. Great staff and great doctors.

View All 235 Reviews

Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment in Irwin

Our optometry practice in Irwin

Photograph of Chris  Cakanac
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 6:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 7:30 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 7:30 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 6:30 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Cigna
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • National Vision Administration (NVA)
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • VBA
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife
  • Aetna
  • UPMC Health Plan

glaucoma surgery

Don’t lose sight of your future.

With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can be controlled.

(724) 864-7777