We invite Scottsdale and Fountain Hills area patients with questions about glaucoma treatment to contact our helpful staff at McCormick Eye Center today.






McCormick Eye Center
10619 N. Hayden Rd., Ste. 101
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

Phone: 480.948.0733
Fax: 480.443.5611

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"My family has been coming to you for several years because you and your staff always provide excellent care. I'd recommend McCormick Eye Center to anyone."

- Don R.

"I was never comfortable with any contacts. Since my laser vision correction procedure I can now see better than ever, day and night. My eyes are comfortable which wasn't always true with my contact lenses."

- Julie F.

"Thanks for spending so much time with me. I'm excited about getting my new glasses."

- JF

"Unbelievable how much better I can see after refitting my contact lenses. I wear monovision and am very happy to see both far and near without glasses."

- Carole Y.

Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Surrounding Areas – Glaucoma Treatment

Often called the "silent thief of sight," glaucoma can strike without obvious symptoms. Many people don't discover they have glaucoma until they have experienced serious vision loss. In fact, half of those suffering damage from the disease are not even aware of it. Glaucoma management, though it cannot reverse the damage already caused by the disease, can slow the progression of the disease and help to preserve a patient's remaining vision. At our Scottsdale practice, near Fountain Hills, glaucoma treatment is administered by Dr. David Johnson, an experienced Arizona surgeon, who also offers treatment for patients with cataracts. Patients concerned about glaucoma often ask the following questions:

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a specific pattern of optic nerve damage and visual field loss potentially caused by a number of different eye diseases. Most, but not all, of these diseases are characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which is not the disease itself, but the most important risk factor for the development of glaucoma.

While elevated IOP is not the only risk factor for glaucoma, it is one parameter that can be monitored and managed. IOP is measured during periodic evaluations as recommended by Dr. Johnson, generally every three to six months. It is important to remember measuring IOP only provides a reading of the pressure at that moment. It may be different (higher or lower) later the same day, the next day, the next week, or the next month. That is why any single IOP measurement is only part of a complete evaluation. At McCormick Eye Center, serving Scottsdale and the surrounding communities, including Fountain Hills, a glaucoma treatment plan can best be determined after a comprehensive evaluation.

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How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?

Diagnosing glaucoma is complicated. At one time, doctors relied exclusively on the measurement of intraocular pressure. Research has since revealed other factors must be taken into account. Today, we rely on periodic assessment of a variety of parameters, including the appearance of the optic nerve and analysis of the patient's visual field.

Our goal is to prevent vision loss from glaucoma before it is clinically apparent to the patient. Therefore, patients should schedule regular glaucoma screenings. With increasing life expectancy, patients should be continually monitored to help them maintain healthy vision throughout their lives.

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What Are the Risk Factors for Glaucoma?

Risk factors that have been identified for glaucoma include the following:

  • High Intraocular pressure
  • Family history of glaucoma
  • African-American ancestry
  • Optic nerve morphology
  • High myopia (nearsightedness)
  • Smoking
  • Coexisting vascular disease
  • Visual field loss

At our Scottsdale practice, all of these factors are considered before a glaucoma treatment plan is developed for an individual patient.

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How Is Glaucoma Treated?

The goal of glaucoma treatment is to prevent vision loss or, if the patient already has vision loss from glaucoma, to try and prevent further vision loss. Eye drops, oral medication, laser treatment, surgery, or a combination of treatments may be used to manage glaucoma. Treatment does not restore vision that has already been lost, but it can prevent or minimize further damage from occurring.

Medication

Medication in the form of eye drops is the usual method of glaucoma treatment in the United States. The majority of glaucoma patients can control their intraocular pressure this way. At McCormick Eye Center, Dr. Johnson carefully monitors both the effectiveness of the treatment and the side effects.

Medication is frequently prescribed for the treatment of glaucoma. Before issuing a prescription for a glaucoma medication, Dr. Johnson performs a comprehensive examination at our office serving Arizona communities including Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and Scottsdale to determine the glaucoma treatment that best meets the patient's individual needs. Medications that may be prescribed include the following:

  • Miotics
  • Beta-blockers
  • Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs)
  • Alpha-agonists
  • Prostaglandin analogues

Laser Treatment

Some patients may benefit from surgery when glaucoma treatment medications produce undesirable side effects. Laser glaucoma treatment is an outpatient procedure that requires only topical anesthesia and takes less than fifteen minutes to complete. Although laser treatment is not an option for everyone, it has been proven to decrease intraocular pressure in many patients. The full effect of the treatment may take about three to six weeks to realize. A complete evaluation can help determine whether the following laser treatments may be right for you:

  • Laser trabeculoplasty – A safe and effective method of lowering IOP (intraocular pressure), laser trabeculoplasty uses laser heat to force some of the drainage passageways to stretch open and allow fluid to drain more freely.
  • Laser iridotomy - This is an outpatient procedure that uses a laser to create a hole in the iris, allowing the aqueous to flow freely.

Surgical Treatment

Glaucoma surgery is usually reserved for patients whose intraocular pressure has not been controlled by the use of medication or laser treatment. The goal of surgery is to lower the intraocular pressure by making a small opening in the eye so that fluid may leave the eye through the newly formed hole. Many techniques have evolved to allow better regulation of fluid outflow, but there is the potential of post-operative complications. This is why this method of glaucoma treatment is usually reserved for those patients who are unresponsive to medical and/or laser treatment. After a comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Johnson can determine whether surgery is the most appropriate treatment for you.

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Contact McCormick Eye Center

Glaucoma is a sight-threatening condition affecting millions of Americans. The sooner glaucoma is diagnosed, the sooner Dr. David Johnson can help. Contact McCormick Eye Center in the Scottsdale and Fountain Hills area to learn more about glaucoma treatment. Our office location is especially convenient for residents of Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, and Carefree, Arizona.

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