Glaucoma Treatment in Kansas City / St. Joseph - Perfect Sense Complete Eye Care

The outstanding reputation of Perfect Sense Complete Eye Care's eye care professionals attracts numerous patients from around the area who seek modern glaucoma treatment. Combining advanced techniques with state-of-the-art technologies, Perfect Sense's experienced team sets the standard in superior, affordable eye care.

Understanding Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, a bundle of nerve fibers that carries information about the images we see from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma damages these nerve fibers, which can lead to peripheral vision loss first and eventually blindness in uncontrolled cases. Pressure builds up when the aqueous humor, a clear liquid produced inside the eye, cannot drain properly. This increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) can damage the optic nerve. Reducing IOP to the target level is the key element in glaucoma treatment. Each patient's target IOP is the unique level at which optic nerve damage is not likely to occur.

With no cure for glaucoma, regular eye exams are important as early detection is necessary to slow the progression of the disease. If not detected early enough and left untreated, glaucoma can cause severe vision loss and ultimately blindness.

The Types of Glaucoma

Although many kinds of glaucoma exist, there are two primary forms of this disease:

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG)
Angle Closure Glaucoma

POAG is the most common form of glaucoma. In POAG, slowly rising IOP can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. Most people who develop POAG notice no symptoms until their vision is impaired. Damage to the optic nerve is irreversible, so regular examination and testing is important.

Angle closure glaucoma, on the other hand, is associated with a physically obstructed anterior chamber angle, the drainage meshwork of the eye. This obstruction may be partial or complete. Partial obstruction usually has no symptoms; however, acute angle closure glaucoma, or complete obstruction, may develop quickly and demand urgent medical attention, as permanent vision loss can occur within hours. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, haloes and eye pain. Prompt treatment is needed to reduce the elevated pressure.

Perfect Sense's Approach to Treating Glaucoma

Regular eye exams are important to detect glaucoma. Although most glaucoma cases arise in patients over the age of 60, a significant number of people are affected at earlier stages. Known as "the silent thief of sight," glaucoma's first symptom can be irreversible loss of vision. The team at Perfect Sense Complete Eye Care uses sophisticated technology to identify glaucoma at its earliest stages. Annual visits are recommended for patients 60 years old and over. Regular exams are encouraged for younger patients found to be at higher risk based on their family history or examination findings.

Treatments offered to our St. Joseph and Kansas City glaucoma patients include eye drops, virtually painless laser procedures, such as Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), and more advanced techniques to improve pressure in the eye. In many cases, we are able to control glaucoma for patients without the need to use expensive eye drop medications on a daily basis.

Perfect Sense is among a select group of eye care centers providing the latest techniques in glaucoma management, including the revolutionary "Trabectome" procedure. In fact, Perfect Sense founder Dr. Stephen Wiles is a certified Trabectome trainer. In this procedure, glaucoma-affected tissue is removed in a matter of minutes to allow better pressure control and thus preservation of sight.

The team at Perfect Sense Complete Eye Care is committed to preserving vision of all of its Kansas City / St. Joseph glaucoma patients. Contact Perfect Sense today to speak with an eye care professional and schedule your appointment.

At Perfect Sense Complete Eye Care, Kansas City and St. Joseph patients are offered an extensive array of sophisticated treatments, including glaucoma therapy and macular degeneration treatment. The practice's eye surgeons also specialize in laser vision correction and cataract surgery. Over the years, they have helped numerous LASIK Kansas City patients realize their dreams of clear vision without glasses. Similarly, they have helped many Kansas City cataract surgery patients restore clear, youthful vision.

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locations: Kansas City, MO, St. Joseph, MO