Glaucoma Specialists in Michigan & Ohio

Who is at Risk for Glaucoma?

Although there are minimal risk factors for glaucoma, certain variables elevate a person’s risk for developing the disease. Glaucoma risk factors include:

• People with elevated intraocular pressure
• Individuals over the age of 60
• Those with a family history of glaucoma
• People of African descent and over the age of 40
• People with diabetes

People in these ‘at risk’ groups won’t experience any noticeable symptoms of the disease early on, so it is important to visit our team of glaucoma doctors regularly to perform examinations.

Are There Symptoms of Glaucoma?

Although treatable when caught early, glaucoma has no early warning signs. Until its advanced stages, most patients have no indication that the pressure in their eyes is elevated or that their optic nerve may be damaged.

The disease affects peripheral vision first—meaning you could have “perfect” 20/20 vision but still have glaucoma. This is why regular eye exams that include testing performed by a glaucoma specialist are vital.

Best Ways to Prevent Glaucoma

The best way to keep glaucoma from robbing you of your eyesight is to have early and regular eye examinations by a professional ophthalmologist at Specialty Eye Institute. Our team of glaucoma doctors offers state-of-the-art glaucoma detection methods and scanning laser diagnostics.

If you're looking for the best glaucoma specialists near you, our team of eye doctors will perform an eye exam to detect an early stage of glaucoma. This will allow our staff to create an appropriate course of treatment to preserve your vision. Early detection of glaucoma means more effective treatment of the disease. If you notice any of the following warning signs of glaucoma, please contact your ophthalmologist immediately:

• Loss of peripheral vision
• Blurred vision
• Red, painful eyes
• Halos around lights
• Headaches
• Nausea

How Our Specialists Diagnose Glaucoma

The professional glaucoma specialists at the Specialty Eye Institute diagnose glaucoma as part of a routine eye examination. We offer eye treatment solutions in areas such as Ann Arbor, Jackson, Bryan, Toledo, Kalamazoo, and Battle Creek. During the examination, the eye doctor will examine the optic nerve for damage and measure the intraocular pressure in your eyes during a tonometry procedure.

If glaucoma is suspected, the doctor typically gives the patient a vision test to determine visual acuity for central and peripheral vision. The test takes about 20 to 30 minutes to perform and consists of flashes of light that the patient sees or does not see, with the patient pushing a button to alert the doctor when a flash is seen.

This method allows our staff of glaucoma specialists to accurately map the patient’s visual acuity and find the areas where vision may be affected. Checking intraocular pressure alone is insufficient to diagnose glaucoma. To protect your vision, it is essential to have early and regular eye examinations.

Treating Glaucoma in Michigan and Ohio

Once a diagnosis of glaucoma has been made, treatment depends on the form of the disease and its severity. Intraocular pressure is often reduced using eye drops or intravenous methods. In addition, laser surgery may be required to open the eye’s drainage system to allow fluid to drain. If these treatments do not work, our team of glaucoma doctors will perform traditional surgery.

Don’t risk your eyesight. Contact Specialty Eye Institute today to request an eye examination. We have locations in:

• Adrian, MI
• Ann Arbor, MI
• Battle Creek, MI
• Chelsea, MI
• Jackson, MI
• Lansing, MI
• Kalamazoo, MI
• Bryan, OH
• Toledo, OH