Access the expertise of an experienced glaucoma specialist

As 50% of Australians with glaucoma go undiagnosed every year, resulting in irreversible vision loss, timely detection and treatment are paramount. At Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic, we’re proud to provide our community with expert care from a highly skilled glaucoma specialist.

Glaucoma is a type of optic neuropathy, meaning a disease of the optic nerve. If left untreated, vision loss from glaucoma is progressive and any such loss from nerve damage is irreversible, even with eventual glaucoma treatment. There are several reputable ophthalmologists with an interest in glaucoma subspecialty, however, the typical asymptomatic nature of glaucoma often results in the delay of timely referral to an appropriate glaucoma specialist.

At a basic level, glaucoma occurs when the intraocular pressure of the eye is too high for the health of the optic nerve, causing damage and loss of nerve fibres. This level of pressure at which potential damage may occur varies between individuals and is also affected by other factors, including anatomical variations and co-existing systemic disease.

Glaucoma cases are divided into two broad categories – open-angle or angle-closure glaucoma. These classifications refer to the configuration of the iris against the cornea as the point where these two structures meet to form the drainage of fluid from within the eye, an area known as the anterior angle. The control of intraocular pressure is largely determined by the balance of fluid production to fluid drainage within the eyeball; an upset to this balance can result in an increase of pressure and subsequent glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma includes situations where the anterior angle is wide but fluid drainage is hindered for other reasons while angle-closure refers to the iris being too closely positioned to the cornea, narrowing the anterior angle and impeding fluid drainage.

Glaucoma Management

At Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic we have worked hard to ensure we provide highly skilled glaucoma management to our patients. Our glaucoma surgeons have undergone extensive subspecialty training both locally and internationally, bringing to you the latest research and knowledge in glaucoma treatment in our facilities.

Our rooms are equipped with cutting-edge diagnostics, including visual field testing and optical coherence tomography, allowing glaucoma diagnosis and management with precision. Patients diagnosed with glaucoma will be counselled on treatment options with our experienced specialist. Your recommended management strategy will be based on several factors that your ophthalmologist will discuss with you. These include:

Other existing eye or systemic diseases
Your ability to adhere to medication dosing schedules
The likelihood that a certain treatment will provide sufficient intraocular pressure control

Currently, there is no cure for glaucoma, but further vision loss can be slowed or halted with timely and appropriate glaucoma management. Our specialists are committed to staying at the forefront of developments in glaucoma treatment and at Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic, we aim to bring this knowledge to you. Management options that your ophthalmologist may discuss with you include:

Therapeutic eye drops

Various pharmaceutical medications have been shown to effectively lower intraocular pressure. Anti-glaucoma eye drops are a life-long treatment and will need to be instilled at least once a day. Some patients with aggressive glaucoma may require more than one type of topical eye drop medication.

Laser therapy

Laser treatment can be applied to both open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma. A procedure known as a laser iridotomy can be performed to even prevent the onset of angle-closure glaucoma if your eye doctor determines that you are at high risk. In open-angle glaucoma, laser therapy known as SLT can be applied to improve the fluid outflow through the anterior angle. In some cases, SLT may need to be repeated if the effects wear off after several years.

Surgery

Current ophthalmology research is looking into surgical options for glaucoma treatment, and has come a long way since surgical techniques were first employed to manage this disease. The advent of MIGS, or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, has shown promising results for glaucoma management, demonstrating significant and sustained reduction of intraocular pressure. For many patients who are not keen on the idea of life-long medications, MIGS can be an attractive option.

Book an appointment today with our experienced glaucoma doctors at Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.