Glaucoma

Dr. Velasquez specializes in the treatment of glaucoma and is fellowship trained in glaucoma surgery, including lasers. Treating thousands of glaucoma patients throughout his career, Dr. Velasquez focuses on the education of the disease with a goal for his patients to understand why he is performing each test and what it means for the eye. Dr. Velasquez prefers a conservative approach to treating glaucoma and performs surgery only when indicated. He has a special interest in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery performed at the time of cataract surgery.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an asymptomatic disease that damages the eye’s optic nerve in the back of your eye. It is the part of the eye that sends images captured directly from the eye to the brain. The eye is responsible for draining accumulation of fluid in the eye through ducts alongside the iris, the colored part of the eye. Glaucoma usually occurs from excess fluid that collects in the front part of the eye. This fluid imbalance results in increased pressure throughout the eye and may cause the tissue surrounding the optic nerve to lose blood flow and ability to function. The damage impacted on the optic nerve fibers may eventually cause permanent peripheral vision loss.

Types of Glaucoma

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma is the most frequently seen disease. This disease is asymptomatic initially, with no noted vision loss or pain. However, this disease occurs gradually in which the eye loses the ability to efficiently drain fluid accumulated in the eye, causing increased pressure and damage to the optic nerve.

You may be at risk for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma if your optic nerve is sensitive to normal eye pressure, and therefore it is strongly encouraged that you be seen regularly by an eye doctor to monitor any signs or changes in your vision.

Angle Closure Glaucoma

Angle Closure Glaucoma is a disease that prevents proper drainage due to the iris clogging the drainage angle. When the drainage is completely blocked, the fluid accumulation causes a rapid increase in ocular pressure that requires you to be seen by an Ophthalmologist immediately. This disease may cause blindness if the attack goes untreated. There are signs and symptoms to an oncoming acute attack, such as:

Sudden blurry vision
Severe eye pain
Rainbow-colored rings or halos
Nausea/Vomiting
Headache

It is crucial to be evaluated by this condition for this disease may develop quickly, called Chronic Angle Closure Glaucoma. This disease is hazardous; if left untreated it may cause sudden attacks, increased chance of permanent optical nerve damage, and blindness.

Glaucoma Diagnosis & Testing