New Location In Erie!

Boulder Eye Surgeons- Arapahoe

4745 Arapahoe Ave. #100, Boulder, CO 80303
(303) 444-3000

Boulder Eye Surgeons/Panorama LASIK

1810 30th St. Suite B, Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 499-2020
(Formerly Boulder Eyes/Beyer LASIK)

Boulder Eye Surgeons - Erie

101 Erie Parkway, Suite 202, Erie, CO 80516
(720) 526-0010

Medical Eye Care

Glaucoma

At Boulder Eye Surgeons, our team of professionals provides
state-of-the-art care to help you achieve and maintain clear vision.
Glaucoma Symptoms
Glaucoma Causes
Glaucoma Diagnosis
Glaucoma Treatment
Why Choose Us?
Meet Our Doctors

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma Symptoms

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, which is the part of the eye that carries the images we see from the eye to the brain. The optic nerve is made up of many nerve fibers (like an electric cable containing numerous wires). Glaucoma damages nerve fibers, which can cause blind spots in our vision. Typically, these blind spots initially involve the peripheral, or side, vision. This loss can occur slowly enough that symptoms are not noticed until the disease is far advanced.

peripheral vision affected by glaucoma

Symptoms

The development of glaucoma is frequently associated with an elevated pressure inside the eye, or intraocular pressure (IOP). When the clear liquid called the aqueous humor–which normally flows in and out of the eye–cannot drain properly, pressure builds up in the eye. The resulting increase in IOP can damage the optic nerve.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

What Causes Dry Eye?

Forms of Glaucoma

open angle glaucoma

Open-Angle Glaucoma

The most common form of glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma, where the aqueous fluid that normally circulates in the front portion of the eye is blocked from flowing back out of the eye through its tiny drainage system. This causes the pressure inside your eye to increase, which can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. Most people who develop primary open-angle glaucoma notice no symptoms until their vision is impaired.

angle closure glaucoma

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

In angle-closure glaucoma, the iris (the colored part of the eye) may completely close off the drainage angle, abruptly blocking the outflow of aqueous fluid and leading to increased IOP or optic nerve damage. In acute angle-closure glaucoma, there is a sudden increase in IOP due to the buildup of aqueous fluid. This condition is considered an emergency because optic nerve damage and vision loss can occur within hours of the problem. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, seeing haloes around light, and eye pain.

Even people with “normal” IOP can experience vision loss from glaucoma. This condition is called normal tension glaucoma. In this type of glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged even though the IOP is considered normal. Normal tension glaucoma is not well understood, but we do know that lowering IOP has been shown to slow progression of this form of glaucoma.

Childhood glaucoma is rare and starts in infancy, childhood or adolescence. Like primary open-angle glaucoma, there are few, if any, symptoms in the early stage. Blindness can result if it is left untreated. Like most types of glaucoma, this type of glaucoma may run in families.

We may tell you that you are at risk for glaucoma if you have one or more risk factors, including elevated IOP, a family history of glaucoma, a particular ethnic background, advanced age, or certain optic nerve conditions. Regular examinations are important if you are at risk for this condition.

How can i check if i have Glaucoma?

Glaucoma Diagnosis

Visual Field Test

The visual field is the entire area one can see. It includes central and peripheral (side) vision. A visual field test can detect problems with vision in any part of the visual field.

Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical Coherence Tomography is a laser-based, non-contact, noninvasive imaging technique that is capable of obtaining high-resolution images of the retina and its components.

What are my treatment options?

Glaucoma Treatment

Selective Laser
Trabeculoplasty

The development of SLT has provided us with a new, exciting option in the treatment of glaucoma.

Endoscopic Cyclophotocaogulation

Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) is a surgical procedure that effectively inhibits the production of aqueous fluid in the eye by the ciliary epithelium.

What patients say about

Boulder Eye Surgeons

97% of our patients would refer friends and family to us.

Boulder Eye Surgeons

Our Doctors

Boulder Eye Surgeons has been providing comprehensive medical and surgical eye care since 1997. We help patients of all ages in Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, and throughout Colorado to achieve and maintain clear vision. Our goal is to provide professional, compassionate and customized eye care to every patient, every time. We strive to understand your needs and exceed your expectations.

Boulder Eye Doctors in Colorado
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