Glaucoma Treatment recommendations by Aarti Pandya, MD 2023: Upon completing her medical degree, Dr. Pandya completed her internship at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her ophthalmology residency at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Offering her patients the best technology and treatment is of utmost importance to Dr. Pandya. She and her staff regularly take ongoing education courses to stay abreast of the most innovative and advanced technologies available today. Read even more info at Aarti Pandya, MD.
It’s Safe, Effective and Inexpensive: More than 2 million cataract surgeries are performed every year in the United States alone. It’s considered to be one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures available. During your cataract surgery screening, we can also discuss the many benefits of insurance coverage (such as Medicare) to help offset the out-of-pocket cost of cataract surgery.
If you are one of the more than 30 million Americans living with diabetes, you’re no doubt aware of the many adverse health issues associated with the metabolic disease. In addition to maintaining general health checkups to manage your diabetes, it’s also imperative that you schedule regular eye exams to check for diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision loss among working-age Americans. Drug Treatments – Anti-VEGF drug treatments injected into the retina target a protein responsible for abnormal blood vessel growth. Supplemental corticosteroid treatment may be included. Vitrectomy – Surgery to remove excess blood and scar tissue from the middle of the eye (vitreous). The best treatment option for you depends on the severity of your condition. Mild cases of diabetic retinopathy can often be managed with healthy lifestyle changes designed to better manage your diabetes.
Once our team assesses the full extent of your condition, we can design a treatment plan that is tailored to your unique condition. In some cases, artificial tears (eye drops) can provide sufficient relief. Behavior modifications such as taking more frequent breaks from your computer at work or avoiding air conditioning can help relieve your symptoms. For optimal eye health, we recommend a diet rich in omega-3 foods (e.g., salmon, nuts, flaxseed oil) or supplements.
Most cases of glaucoma are caused by a buildup of fluid in the front of the eye that increases ocular pressure to dangerous levels (ocular hypertension). The increased pressure can damage the optic nerve — which is essential for transmitting the images we see to the brain for visual recognition — and result in permanent blindness. There are other, less common types of glaucoma including normal-tension glaucoma, congenital glaucoma and secondary glaucoma. Through comprehensive eye testing that measures peripheral vision, the pressure in your eye, optic nerve health, the thickness of your cornea and fluid drainage, our glaucoma specialists can identify your specific type and develop a custom treatment plan designed to save your vision.