Glaucoma Treatment in Pittsburgh

Glaucoma Treatment in Pittsburgh

Don’t Let Glaucoma Rob You of Your Sight

(412) 788-4664

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness.

It's caused by fluid build-up and increased pressure within the eye that damages the optic nerve that progressively worsens your vision. This disease can cause severe, irreversible vision loss if left untreated.

In many cases, appropriate control and treatment can help prevent further damage to the eyes and protect your vision. VisionMakers - Pittsburgh offers several treatments to help address glaucoma. Learn more about the treatments we provide and contact us to schedule an appointment.

Glaucoma diagnosis


The 2 Main Types of Glaucoma

grandfather wearing glasses holding his granddaughter

  • Open-angle glaucoma: the most common type. It is a lifelong condition that accounts for at least 90% of all glaucoma cases.
  • Angle-closure glaucoma: a rare form of the disease which requires immediate medical attention. It occurs when the angle is closed in many or most areas between the iris and cornea, which reduces fluid drainage and increases eye pressure.

Glaucoma: The Sneaky Thief of Sight

There is a reason glaucoma is called “the sneaky thief of sight”--half the people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it! Meaning, they may not have symptoms in the early stages.

At VisionMakers - Pittsburgh, we diagnose and help preserve your vision with cutting-edge glaucoma treatments that can slow the progression of the disease.

If you have a family history of glaucoma or have been diagnosed with glaucoma, contact us today.

optometrist in Pittsburgh


What are the Signs of Glaucoma?

glaucoma signs

As mentioned earlier, glaucoma usually shows no symptoms in its early stages. When signs do manifest, it's usually loss of tunnel vision or peripheral vision. Unfortunately, by the time vision loss has occurred, it cannot be reversed.

That said, the less common angle-closure glaucoma does show a sudden onset of symptoms, including:

  • Extreme eye pain
  • Eye redness
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek prompt diagnosis and treatment by contacting VisionMakers - Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh or visiting your nearest emergency room.


Who's at Risk for Glaucoma?

  • Age 40 +

    The prevalence of glaucoma increases with age, with most glaucoma patients aged 40 and up. That said, there is a much rarer form of this disease (congenital glaucoma) that affects infants.

  • Family History & Ethnicity

    Your risk for developing glaucoma is higher if you have a family history of the disease. Those of African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American, and Indigenous Canadian descent have a higher risk of developing this disease.

  • Other Conditions

    High myopia, hypertension and diabetes can increase the risk of developing glaucoma.

  • Eye Injury or Trauma

    An eye injury, trauma or eye surgery can increase the likelihood of developing glaucoma.


Common Glaucoma Treatments

There is currently no cure for glaucoma. However, several treatments are available to prevent the progression of this sight-robbing condition. With the right care, you have a higher chance of managing your glaucoma and preserving your vision.

Common treatments include:

Eye Drops

Your optometrist will prescribe eye drops to help regulate pressure inside the eye by decreasing fluid production and/or improving drainage.

Laser Surgery

If eye drops aren’t doing enough to reduce intraocular pressure or intraocular temperature in open-angle glaucoma, laser surgery may be an option. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) opens up the drainage system in the eye to reduce pressure.

SLT is successful in 80% of cases and can reduce eye pressure by 20%.

Other Surgeries

If a laser procedure or eye drops do not lower eye pressure to the desired level, your eye doctor may recommend one of the following surgeries:

  • Incision Surgery
  • Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
  • Glaucoma Drainage Implants

Glaucoma Testing Treatment FAQs

How does an eye doctor diagnose glaucoma?

Since glaucoma has no side effects early on, it is essential for people with a family history of risk factors for glaucoma to get tested. The following tests diagnose glaucoma:

  • Tonometry: measures the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure or IOP)
  • Ophthalmoscopy (dilated eye exam): examines the shape and color of the optic nerve
  • Perimetry: measures your field of vision
  • Gonioscopy: checks the angle where the iris meets the cornea
  • Pachymetry: determines the thickness of the cornea to better evaluate eye pressure.
What foods should you avoid if you have glaucoma?

The following are the foods every glaucoma patient should consider avoiding immediately. It should help keep your optic nerve healthy and minimize eye pressure.

  • Caffeine - certain studies show that caffeine contributes to increased intraocular pressure.
  • Saturated fats - a diet high in saturated fats can lead to weight gain, which not only increases intraocular pressure but also cholesterol levels.
  • Trans fats - try to limit your consumption of trans fats because they can also raise cholesterol levels
  • Salt - make sure to consume salt sparingly, as increased blood pressure can indirectly lead to intraocular pressure.
What percentage of glaucoma patients go blind?

About 60% of patients diagnosed with glaucoma will eventually lose some vision.

However, the rate of legal blindness among glaucoma patients is 5%. Getting effective treatment early on will greatly increase your ability to preserve and maximize your vision.

Patient Reviews
4.7
75 Reviews
5
4
3
2
1
- Nov. 01, 2024
I used to come to VisionMakers until I graduated college in 2013 due to my parents using them while ... growing up. Recently I returned to the area due to difficult circumstances and reached out to them for help. VisionMakers, Maggie in particular went above and beyond to help me out. She was so thoughtful and caring and it showed. You can really tell how good a business or branch is based on the people that work there and from my experience today, words honestly can’t describe the warmth and care this branch gives out.
- Oct. 26, 2024
Loved the friendly atmosphere! The staff and doctor made me feel comfortable. The staff helped me w... ith making sure my insurance was correct the spelling of my name was incorrect. They helped me also picking out glasses which I truly appreciated !! The doctor was so sweet and answered any questions I had for her! I felt comfortable!
- Oct. 24, 2024
Very friendly and helpful staff. Doc was great.
- Aug. 21, 2024
Dr. Emma Thompson is very kind and understanding. As a college student suffering from Dry Eye with n... o insurance, she has been very helpful in minimizing my required medication and appointments. Overall a very positive and kind woman! Recommend 🙂
- Jul. 04, 2024
Very friendly, very helpful and accommodating highly recommend!
- Jun. 13, 2024
Continue the great work!
- Jun. 07, 2024
Great place for glasses I would recommend them
- Mar. 27, 2024
I absolutely love my new glasses! Jess is fabulous and very intuitive. She has a great sense of what... the clients styles are. She helped me pick my glasses out. She was very patient and understanding with my own indecisiveness. They were all so kind towards me. The Doctor was very thorough and explained everything to me as she did the exam. I have been worrying about possibly having an underlying issue with my eyes the last yr.. yr and a half. But unfortunately I’m just getting old and need readers (in my own words ofc)😆. I read a lot and evr since I’ve been trying to read with my glasses on it makes such a difference. I don’t get the headaches I was getting and the blurry vision afterwards is gone. Also the woman at the front desk that does the scheduling was just a very nice and helpful person. Oh and I dnt want to forget about the 1st woman I seen that did the picture of the back of my eyes and the vision test.. she’s the best! She helped me SO much and was just a joy to talk to while I was with her. It’s like a big family there. The staff is what makes Visionmakers. Truly top tier. I would recommend this office to a family member. Thanks Jess and all the women at Vision makers that I seen that day!🥰. Ps I apologize for being horrible with names!🤦🏼‍♀️
- Mar. 22, 2024
Great staff!!
- Mar. 15, 2024
Great service, friendly staff. They could use a better sign out front.
- Mar. 06, 2024
Got called the day before to confirm my insurance and the day of the visit it was some quick paper w... ork and in to see the eye doctor. Out and looking thru glasses in the next 30m I think and giving great explanations on everything and what my insurance covers. Glasses came in a week later and didn't need to worry about anything with the fittings. Overall very glad I chose them.
- Feb. 21, 2024
Dr Emma Thompson is great. She was able to quickly do my eye exam and then explained the results to... me in a clear and concise manner. Additionally, she laid out my options for vision care as well as gave her recommendation. The front office staff was friendly and efficient as well. I will be recommending VisionMakers to my friends and family
- Feb. 15, 2024
I have been a customer for years--and have always been pleased with the service and the staff. My w... ife and older son both wear glasses and have been using them as well. Jess is always over the top with ideas and insurance questions are answered while you wait. I can't recommend them enough! Certainly worth the trip to Robinson Township! FIVE STARS!!!
- Jan. 20, 2024
I recently got 4 glasses from Vision Markers, the staff was 10/10. They put me in the right lenses f... or the correct use. I got the blue light and glare reduction lenses for my everyday glasses, and it’s a game changer! Worth every penny. The staff seemed to care about my glasses as much as I did. It was truly amazing!
- Dec. 18, 2023
They were kind and knowledgeable. I will return to them for sure
- Jun. 02, 2023
Very professional, great service!
- Sep. 06, 2022
Was there today, the one by Settlers Cabin Park, Jess did a fantastic job taking care of my problem ... with my glasses, Thankyou so very much , Five Stars!!!!!!!!!!!
- Sep. 06, 2022
I will start by saying this is kind of a double sided review. Suzanne was not kind and had a very sn... ooty attitude. She sounds like she has no personality but the other office members were so kind to me about picking out glasses options. Jessica was always my go to, but Jake seems to be a great addition to the office. Not everyone can be perfect, but she really needs to watch her language in front of customers. Suzanne swore a lot and there were children there.
- Sep. 01, 2022
I came in towards the end of the day and Jake was kind enough to take his time and explain what cont... acts I could order. He was very knowledgeable and helped me understand my lens options as well. Keep up the good work!
- Aug. 31, 2022
Always have a great experience at VisionMakers!

View All 75 Reviews

Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment in Pittsburgh

Our optometry practice in Pittsburgh

Photograph of Emma  Thompson
Hours
  • Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday Closed
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

glaucoma surgery

Don’t lose sight of your future.

With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can be controlled.

(412) 788-4664