What is the Goal of Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery?

Thanks to constant improvements in eye care technology, patients with glaucoma have different options for managing their disease. The goal of glaucoma management is to detect it before it progresses to a more detrimental stage. At Ticho Eye Associates, Dr. Benjamin Ticho offers different approaches for glaucoma treatment in Chicago. During a comprehensive eye exam in Chicago Ridge, IL, Tinley Park, IL, or Munster, IN, he can determine your eye health, the stage of your glaucoma disease, and which treatment will work best to resolve your symptoms. A minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is ideal for many patients.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease where the optic nerve becomes damaged, which results in elevated eye pressure. The only treatment approach is to lower this pressure. When fluid builds up in the front of your eye, it can lead to blindness when left untreated. However, blindness can be prevented with early treatment at Ticho Eye Associates. Regular eye exams are important in finding early signs of damages to the optic nerve due to glaucoma.

Causes of glaucoma

Your eye constantly makes a fluid called aqueous humor that is responsible for nourishing the lens and maintaining pressure in the eye. If it is unable to drain properly, the fluid will build up in your eye, which can cause damage to your optic nerve. Your optic nerve contains millions of tiny nerve fibers. As they die, you will develop blind spots with your vision.

Types of glaucoma

There are two main types of glaucoma:

Primary open-angle glaucoma: Primary open-angle glaucoma occurs when the eye doesn’t drain fluid as well as it should, which results in increased eye pressure. It’s painless and doesn’t cause vision changes at first.
Angle-closure glaucoma: Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when your iris is close to the drainage angle of your eye. The pressure in your eye then rises quickly, which is known as an acute attack. This is considered an emergency. Usually, this develops slowly, so there is no way for you to know if you are at risk without regular eye exams.

If you experience blurry vision, severe eye pain, or see rainbow-colored rings, call Dr. Ticho’s office immediately for medical attention.

About minimally invasive glaucoma surgery

When you want to treat glaucoma in Chicago effectively and lower eye pressure, MIGS surgery can help. At Ticho Eye Associates in Chicago Ridge, IL, Tinley Park, IL, and Munster, IN, we specialize in medical, laser, and surgical glaucoma treatments. The most common treatment we use for managing glaucoma is minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. It can successfully reduce eye pressure, preserve the optic nerve, and slow the progression of the disease. Best of all, its goal is to improve your vision and protect you from going blind. During your initial visit with Dr. Ticho, he can explain the surgical process and answer any questions you may have.

Learn about advanced glaucoma management options

When you are experiencing moderate to advanced glaucoma, a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery can help treat your symptoms. To learn how minimally invasive glaucoma surgery can help protect your eyesight, contact Ticho Eye Associates to schedule an appointment at our Chicago, IL, Tinley Park, IL, or Munster, IN, offices. Dr. Benjamin Ticho has helped patients of all ages suffering from this intraocular pressure.