Your eyesight is a precious gift. The ability to see is something we’ve all taken for granted at some point and glaucoma can take it away. Chances are if you’re watching this video you or a love one has been diagnosed with this sight threatening disease. According to the World Health Organization it’s the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Glaucoma cannot be cured and vision lost cannot be regained. But with medication and or surgery it is possible to slow the progression of glaucoma and halt further loss of vision.
A clear liquid called aqueous humour fills the front of the eye and provides nourishment to the tissues. In most types of glaucoma the eyes natural drainage system loses function and the fluid inside the eye cannot drain. This lack of drainage causes elevated intraocular pressure or IOP. High IOP damages the sensitive optic nerve and result in vision loss. Vision loss can have a very serious impact on one’s quality of life. Many people with glaucoma cannot drive a car safely, see their grandkids on the soccer field or view the world as they once did. The first sign of glaucoma is often the loss of peripheral or side vision. To prevent this from happening it is essential to lower your IOP. Traditional glaucoma treatments fall into three primary categories. Drug Therapy, Non-invasive and Invasive surgery. But today there is a new alternative. Many patients IOP is adequately managed with drug therapy but medications can lose their effectiveness over time in some patients especially those in the advance stages of glaucoma. Many patients can’t afford their medications while others have trouble in remembering to use them as prescribed. Non-invasive surgery uses a focused beam of light to improve fluid drainage. In most cases, this procedure must be repeated and can cause irreversible scarring leading to various vision problems. Invasive surgery is the most common conventional glaucoma surgery. The doctor removes a portion of the trabecular meshwork allowing fluid to flow out of the eye lowering IOP. However, scarring can occur and a single patient may require multiple surgical procedures. While drugs or surgery may prove ineffective for some patients there is new hope in a fight against glaucoma. It’s called Canaloplasty. Canaloplasty is an advance non-penetrating procedure designed to enhance and restore the eyes natural drainage system to provide sustain reduction of IOP. It utilizes breakthrough micro catheter technology in a simple and non-invasive procedure. To perform a canaloplasty your doctor will create a tiny flap to gain access to a canal in the eye. A micro catheter will navigate the canal around your iris enlarging the main drainage channel and the smaller collector channels that flows into it. By opening up the canal and channels the pressure inside your eye will be relieved.
Canaloplasty is designed to provide many benefits compared to traditional glaucoma treatments. It may also reduce or eliminate the need for medication and the associated cost. Plus there is a low risk of postoperative complications. This all adds up to the possibility that you can live life without having to deal with medications. It also means you may not require additional glaucoma surgery. Best of all, imagine the security and knowing that your IOP is reduced and your glaucoma is now under control. Only your doctor can decide of a canaloplasty procedure is right for you. Ask him or her if you’re a candidate and find out how your lifestyle might benefit from this new non-invasive treatment option.
