Glaucoma
The Hidden Danger Of Glaucoma
In the early stages of glaucoma, patients don't notice any symptoms at all. As a result, their glaucoma can continue to progress in secret. Instead of living unaware and experiencing permanent vision loss in the future, have a complete eye examination on a yearly basis to check for glaucoma and other medical conditions.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases in which the optic nerve is damaged, resulting in permanent loss of vision if not detected and treated. Most patients do not have any symptoms in the early stages of damage, so they don’t realize they are losing their vision.
The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. While there is no cure for glaucoma, there are many treatment options including eye drops, laser treatment and several surgical procedures that halt or slow the progression of this potentially blinding disease.
Dr. Wooldridge is a founding member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society, a group of optometrist clinicians, scientists and educators. He is nationally recognized by his peers as a leader in glaucoma care and education. Call the Eye Foundation of Utah in Salt Lake City today to make an appointment with Dr. Wooldridge.
Salt Lake City-Area Patients Appreciate Our Eye Doctors
Frank
2022
I can't say enough good about the good doctors and staff at the Eye Foundation of Utah. My eyes have always been HORRIBLE now I see 20/20! Everyone was wonderful from top to bottom. Friendly, professional - they did a great job all the way around. If I had a loved one that needed the job done right, I would recommend these guys!
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Karlie
2022
The Eye Foundation is very focused on the proper testing, research, and providing accurate results. It’s comforting knowing you can leave without questioning the results. I would certainly recommend Dr. Wooldridge for anyone who is seeking answers to their eye care. This office is direct, straightforward, and to the point.
View On GoogleDo Your Part To Save Your Vision
The possibility of glaucoma can be frightening — but we're by your side.
Once you do the hard part of deciding to seek care, the Eye Foundation will work to make the process as simple as possible. Dr. Wooldridge is a nationally known medical glaucoma specialist. To protect your vision, he and Dr. Bradley Anderson offer a wide range of treatments, including eye drops, laser treatments and surgery.
Do you think you may have angle-closure or open-angle glaucoma? Or have you just been diagnosed? Time is of the essence. Contact our office immediately or call (801) 268-6408.
Common Types Of Glaucoma
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There are many types of glaucoma but they all result in optic nerve damage and loss of vision if not treated. Most patients have a type of Open Angle Glaucoma (OAG).
Open-Angle Glaucoma
Open-Angle Glaucoma (OAG) is the most common type in the United States, accounting for approximately 90% of cases. It occurs when the aqueous humor does not drain out of the eye at the normal rate thereby causing the intraocular pressure (IOP) to rise.
Much like high blood pressure can cause damage to the brain, high IOP causes damage to the optic nerve with resultant loss of vision. Treatment is directed at lowering the IOP to prevent optic nerve damage, thereby preserving vision.
The general category Open-Angle glaucoma actually includes two subtypes, Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Normal Pressure Glaucoma (Normal Tension Glaucoma).
Normal Pressure Glaucoma
Normal Pressure (or Tension) Glaucoma (NTG) is a type of Open-Angle glaucoma in which optic nerve damage and loss of vision occurs even though the IOP is at a normal level.
The exact cause for this type of glaucoma isn’t clear but several things increase the risk for NTG:
- Japanese ancestry
- Family history of NTG
- Low blood pressure
- History of migraine headaches
For more information about the nature of Open Angle Glaucoma, click on the video below:
Understanding Open-Angle Glaucoma
Angle Closure Glaucoma (ACG)
In angle closure glaucoma, the iris (the colored part of your eye) covers all or part of the drainage system located in the anterior chamber angle thereby preventing the fluid from draining out and increasing the IOP. While more people are aware of Acute (Sudden Onset) Angle Closure Glaucoma, it can also occur in a gradual fashion.
Acute Angle closure Glaucoma causes the IOP to rise quickly and dramatically with symptoms of intense eye pain, redness and rapid onset of blurry vision. Such an event is an emergency and the patient should be evaluated immediately.
For more information about Angle Closure Glaucoma, click on the video below.
Understanding Angle Closure Glaucoma
Educational Resources About Glaucoma
Types of Glaucoma
Glaucoma Diagnosis General Information
The Value Of Regular Eye Exams
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Remember that most types of glaucoma have no early symptoms so it’s important to have an eye exam on a regular basis even if you see clearly with or without glasses or contact lenses. If your primary eye care provider has noticed signs of glaucoma during your exam, we offer treatments to manage your condition and prevent vision loss.
How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
While most patients think of the IOP measurement as “the glaucoma test,” there is far more to an examination to detect glaucoma. Dr. Wooldridge can determine if you have glaucoma with tests like:
Intraocular Pressure (IOP) Measurement
Measuring the IOP is an important part of the glaucoma assessment but it’s not the most important part! While high IOP increases your risk of developing glaucoma, not everyone with high IOP will develop glaucoma and some people with normal IOP still develop glaucoma. At the Eye Foundation, we use the worldwide gold standard Goldmann tonometer AND a next generation instrument that has been shown in many studies to provide an even more accurate measurement than Goldmann tonometry.Dilated Eye Exam
A dilated eye exam is necessary to assess the appearance of the optic nerve. Glaucoma damage is sometimes obvious on examination alone; in other cases, early damage can only be detected with a special optic nerve scan.Optic Nerve Photos
High resolution optic nerve photographs are compared over time to check for subtle changes in appearance that may signal early or progressive glaucoma damage. The Eye Foundation uses special technology to compare the photographs that enables the doctor to see changes earlier than the methods used in most centers.Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
OCT is a noninvasive imaging method that uses reflected light to create images of the optic nerve and retina. The Eye Foundation uses this revolutionary, highly sensitive technology to detect and monitor glaucoma and many retinal diseases. It often allows our doctors to detect glaucoma damage before it is visible on clinical examination.Visual Field Test
If not detected and treated, glaucoma causes slow loss of vision, starting with your side (peripheral) vision — especially the part of your vision that’s closest to your nose. Because it happens so slowly, most people can’t tell that their vision is changing at first. A visual field test is a very sensitive test of your peripheral vision used to catch early loss of vision before you are aware of it. Pursuing Glaucoma Treatment At the Eye Foundation of Utah
Catching glaucoma in its early, symptomless stages is crucial — and we're here to help. We offer advanced glaucoma care to detect damage early and prevent additional loss of vision. Treatment options are usually simpler, and prognosis is better if the glaucoma is caught in its early stages. Our team will carefully evaluate your eyes, explain our findings, answer your questions, and prescribe the particular treatment plan that best meets your needs and preferences. Don't wait — visit our Salt Lake City, UT-area practice for the medical attention you need.
Educational Resources
Glaucoma Treatments
Laser Treatment
Medical Treatment
Glaucoma Surgery
Is Glaucoma Treatment
Covered by Insurance?
Yes, insurance can help with the cost of glaucoma treatment. However, it will not cover the full cost of your treatment. You will need to meet your deductible first. Still, it may help to remember that the earlier you treat your glaucoma, the less extensive and expensive it will likely be.
To make treatment possible, we accept CareCredit® financing. It offers low-interest or no-interest options that you can pay off over time. Have questions? Our team is happy to answer them.
The Impact of Treatment On a Grateful Patient
"I have been treated at the Eye Foundation for over 25 years now. I was diagnosed with glaucoma at the age of 39. So if not for the Eye Foundation, I would be blind now. I highly recommend the Eye Foundation of Utah. The doctors and staff are amazing. I would not go anywhere else. Thank you Eye Foundation of Utah for my sight." Tom
