Blog Glaucoma
Preservative-Free Eye Drop for Glaucoma Approved
Prostaglandin analogues like Latanoprost, Tavaprost and Bimatoprost are the most commonly prescribed glaucoma drugs available in the market today. They are well-known for their potency and minimal systemic side-effects compared to their eye medicine forerunners. But because of their required long term use, patients may suffer from the irritating side-effects of their accompanying preservative Benzalkonium Chloride (BAK). Researchers have observed that cellular damage to the conjunctiva is...
read moreFinding the Right Glaucoma Surgery for You
Open angle glaucoma is one of the most common reasons the elderly seek eye surgery. It is a chronic debilitating condition that can lead to blindness. In terms of glaucoma treatment, what works for one person may not necessarily be applicable to all. This is why beyond what you read on the internet or the successful eye surgery your friend tells you about, you should look to your doctor to guide your treatment decision. But of course it does not hurt to know your options. Having an intelligent...
read moreGingko Biloba: More Than Meets The Eye
Gingko is reputed to improve thinking, delay Alzheimer’s disease, preserve memory, and reverse memory loss. How about glaucoma? Proponents of gingko claim that the secret lies to its active ingredients: flavanoids and terpenoids. How it works The ginkgo plant, known for its distinctly shaped “duck feet” leaves, has more than 40 constituents, with two in particular promoting blood flow. Flavanoids keep cells healthy by combating free radicals while terpenoids help reduce stickiness of...
read moreCommon Eye Test Could Miss Vision Loss from Glaucoma
Visual acuity, using a Snellen chart is a simple and routine eye evaluation usually performed in ophthalmologists’ and optometrists’ offices. It is used to estimate a person’s degree of visual disability. In order to perform this test a person is generally asked to sit or stand a standard distance of 20 feet (or 6 meters) from a standardized screen. She is then asked to identify a set of letters in decreasing order of size. To put it simply, for a person to be considered to have...
read moreGlaucoma Specialists Question Federal Policy on Glaucoma Screening
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a reviewing body that recommends medical treatments and clinical practices according to the strength of evidence, has recently stated its position on early assessment of asymptomatic glaucoma in the general population. In August 2011, it released a report indicating that it had not found any proven benefit in performing standard glaucoma tests such as Goldman tonometry, automated perimetry as well as more modern testing such as the...
read moreIs There A Common Link Between Erectile Dysfunction and Glaucoma?
A recent study published in the journal Ophthalmology (January 2012) revealed that men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction are three times more likely to suffer from open angle glaucoma. The study was conducted among 4605 men by researchers in the Division of Urology at the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital of Taiwan. The researchers theorize that a similar molecular abnormality occurs in erectile dysfunction and glaucoma. Endothelium lines the small arteries found in the penis, the retina of the...
read moreCanaloplasty Glaucoma Surgery FAQ: What Is The Big Deal About A Bleb Anyway?
Dr. David D. Richardson (Eye Doctor, California) answers one of the most commonly asked questions about Canaloplasty (Glaucoma Surgery), an advanced minimally invasive glaucoma treatment. What Is The Big Deal About A Bleb Anyway? One of the benefits of canaloplasty is that it’s essentially a bleb-free procedure. It’s rare for anyone to develop a bleb. Almost everyone after canaloplasty is able to wear soft contact lenses if they desire, is able to continue with...
read moreWhy Do I Perform Canaloplasty as My Primary Glaucoma Surgery?
Dr. David D. Richardson (Eye Doctor, LA) answers one of the most commonly asked questions about Canaloplasty (an advanced minimally invasive glaucoma treatment). Why Do I Perform Canaloplasty As My Primary Glaucoma Surgery? One of things I find most frustrating about glaucoma is that, in the early stages it’s a disease without symptoms. So just like high blood pressure, diabetes, we as doctors end up treating a condition that has no symptoms and the treatment itself...
read moreCanaloplasty Treatment FAQ | What Are the Risks of Canaloplasty?
Dr. David D. Richardson (Eye Doctor, LA) answers one of the most commonly asked questions about Canaloplasty (an advanced minimally invasive glaucoma treatment). What Are The Risks Of Canaloplasty? Although canaloplasty is a safer surgery when compared with more traditional glaucoma surgeries such as trabeculectomy and tubes, it is surgery, and so there are risks needed to be associated with it. It is important to note that with glaucoma, left untreated, vision will eventually...
read moreGlaucoma Treatment FAQ | Can I Continue To Wear Soft Contact Lenses After Canaloplasty?
Dr. David D. Richardson (Eye Doctor, LA) answers one of the most commonly asked questions about Canaloplasty (an advanced minimally invasive glaucoma treatment). Can I Continue To Wear Soft Contact Lenses After Canaloplasty? One of the unfortunate things about traditional glaucoma surgeries such as trabeculectomy and tubes or shunts, is that, if you’re a soft contact wearer now, after surgery you may not able to wear soft contact lenses. It is possible for some people to...
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