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Glaucoma Management

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve, usually as a result of increased pressure within the eye.

There are two main types of glaucoma:

  1. Open-angle glaucoma is more common and involves fluid in the eye not draining properly through the trabecular meshwork.
  2. Angle-closure glaucoma involves intermittent increases in eye pressure due to poor drainage because the space between the iris and the cornea is too narrow.
  3. Others include normal-tension glaucoma and congenital or secondary glaucoma.

Most patients do not experience any symptoms from high eye pressure, and during the early stages of glaucoma they do not notice the side vision loss.

This makes it difficult for many patients to know if they have the disease. As glaucoma progresses, patients may experience a loss of peripheral or side vision. 

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Diagnosing Glaucoma

Since many patients do not experience any symptoms during the early stages of glaucoma, a diagnosis may only be made during a regular eye exam. It is important for patients, especially those with a higher risk of developing glaucoma, to have their eyes checked by an optometrist at least once a year.

Your doctor may recommend several different eye tests in order to detect signs of glaucoma.

Intraocular Pressure Measurement and in-clinic angle assessments

Visual field testing is commonly performed to measure the extent and sensitivity of peripheral vision.  This is where glaucoma patients show the earliest signs of vision loss. The tool can help assess changes in peripheral vision and to help screen for the disease in conjunction with other testing.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is also commonly used and the latest versions of these devices are available at Prism Eye Institute. This high-tech equipment produces a highly detailed image of the layers within the eye within minutes.  Your doctor will use OCT to assess the thickness and health of the retina, macula, optic nerve and more, all without even touching the eye. For glaucoma, OCT of the layers around the optic nerve can help your doctor identify glaucoma-related defects before they appear in one’s vision and well before a patient would notice any symptoms.

Anterior Segment OCT is useful in evaluating the degree of narrow angles and monitoring patients at risk of angle-closure glaucoma. It can help identify subtle anatomical abnormalities, making it a highly essential tool for glaucoma management.

Optos is a wide-field retinal imaging device, providing a comprehensive view of the entire retina, to help your doctor identify any other glaucoma defects that could affect a Patient’s glaucoma management.   

What to Expect

During a clinic visit with a glaucoma specialist, patients can expect a thorough evaluation using various diagnostic tools. The specialist will discuss treatment options, which can range from prescription eye drops to laser procedures and surgical interventions.

Prescription eye drops

There are a number of eye drops your glaucoma specialist may start you on for early stage glaucoma that does not require laser or surgery to begin with.

Your specialist will discuss these with you.

Glaucoma Laser Procedures

SLT laser is used when angles are open and lowers eye pressure by stimulating cells inside the eye to clean the drain (trabecular meshwork). 

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Iridotomy is used to help open narrow or closed angles by flattening the iris profile

Glaucoma Surgery

There are a number of surgical options that can help patients achieve additional eye pressure control.  Some surgeries are minimally invasive and allow for relatively quick post-surgical recovery.

When greater pressure lowering is required, a surgeon may recommend a more involved surgery and recovery can take weeks.  Glaucoma surgery is tailored to each patient’s unique situation.

Glaucoma specialist with advanced training in glaucoma surgery can discuss these options with you and recommend the right one for you.

Talk to your optometrist if you do not currently have a glaucoma specialist, or contact us to see one of our dedicated optometrists

Frequently Asked Questions

Most people don’t notice symptoms until vision loss occurs. When they do appear, you may experience:

  • Blurred or patchy vision
  • Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision
  • Halos around lights
  • Eye pain, redness, or headache (especially in acute cases)
  • Sudden vision changes or nausea (in severe cases)

There is no cure for glaucoma, but early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent or slow further vision loss.

 Yes — family history is a significant risk factor. If you have close relatives with glaucoma, regular eye exams are important for early detection.

Risk factors include:

  • Age over 40
  • Family history of glaucoma
  • High eye pressure
  • Diabetes or hypertension
  • Long-term steroid use
  • African, Asian, or Hispanic ancestry

Without treatment, glaucoma can cause irreversible vision loss and eventually blindness. Early diagnosis, consistent treatment, and follow-up care are essential to protect your sight.

Yes — adopting healthy habits can support eye health and treatment success:

  • Use prescribed eye drops consistently
  • Exercise regularly (as advised by your doctor)
  • Avoid smoking
  • Control blood pressure and blood sugar levels
  • Eat a balanced diet rich in leafy greens and antioxidants

You should not drive immediately after laser treatment (such as SLT or Iridotomy) because your vision may be temporarily blurred due to dilating drops or light sensitivity.

Most patients can resume driving the next day, once vision stabilizes and comfort returns. Always confirm with your doctor before driving.

Driving is not recommended for several days following glaucoma surgery. Vision may be blurred, and you’ll need time to recover safely.

Your surgeon will let you know when it’s safe to resume driving—typically after the first post-operative check-up when your eye pressure and healing are stable.

  • Laser treatments (like SLT or Iridotomy) usually require 1–2 days for recovery.
  • Glaucoma surgery (like trabeculectomy or tube shunt) can take several weeks for full healing.
    During this time, you’ll use prescribed drops and attend follow-up visits to monitor healing and eye pressure.

SLT stands for Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty.

In many cases, yes. Laser or surgical treatment can reduce your need for drops but often doesn’t eliminate them entirely. Your doctor will tailor your medication plan based on your eye pressure readings.

Glaucoma Management Doctors

Devesh Varma, MD, FRCSC, BEng
Devesh Varma, MD, FRCSC, BEng
Iqbal Ike K. Ahmed, MD, FRCSC
Iqbal Ike K. Ahmed, MD, FRCSC
Tom Klein, MD, FRCSC, FACS
Tom Klein, MD, FRCSC, FACS
Irfan Kherani, AB, MD, FRCSC
Irfan Kherani, AB, MD, FRCSC
Matt Schlenker, MD, FRCSC, MSc
Matt Schlenker, MD, FRCSC, MSc
Jia-Yue You, MD CM, FRCSC
Jia-Yue You, MD CM, FRCSC
Jaskirat Takhar, MD, MSc, FRCSC
Jaskirat Takhar, MD, MSc, FRCSC
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Oakville, Ontario L6H 0J8

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