Glaucoma Treatment in University Place

Glaucoma Treatment in University Place

Don’t Let Glaucoma Rob You of Your Sight

(713) 521-2020

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness.

It's caused by fluid build-up and increased pressure within the eye that damages the optic nerve that progressively worsens your vision. This disease can cause severe, irreversible vision loss if left untreated.

In many cases, appropriate control and treatment can help prevent further damage to the eyes and protect your vision. Memorial Eye Center - Rice Village offers several treatments to help address glaucoma. Learn more about the treatments we provide and contact us to schedule an appointment.

Glaucoma diagnosis


The 2 Main Types of Glaucoma

grandfather wearing glasses holding his granddaughter

  • Open-angle glaucoma: the most common type. It is a lifelong condition that accounts for at least 90% of all glaucoma cases.
  • Angle-closure glaucoma: a rare form of the disease which requires immediate medical attention. It occurs when the angle is closed in many or most areas between the iris and cornea, which reduces fluid drainage and increases eye pressure.

Glaucoma: The Sneaky Thief of Sight

There is a reason glaucoma is called “the sneaky thief of sight”--half the people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it! Meaning, they may not have symptoms in the early stages.

At Memorial Eye Center - Rice Village, we diagnose and help preserve your vision with cutting-edge glaucoma treatments that can slow the progression of the disease.

If you have a family history of glaucoma or have been diagnosed with glaucoma, contact us today.

optometrist in University Place


What are the Signs of Glaucoma?

glaucoma signs

As mentioned earlier, glaucoma usually shows no symptoms in its early stages. When signs do manifest, it's usually loss of tunnel vision or peripheral vision. Unfortunately, by the time vision loss has occurred, it cannot be reversed.

That said, the less common angle-closure glaucoma does show a sudden onset of symptoms, including:

  • Extreme eye pain
  • Eye redness
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek prompt diagnosis and treatment by contacting Memorial Eye Center - Rice Village in University Place or visiting your nearest emergency room.


Who's at Risk for Glaucoma?

  • Age 40 +

    The prevalence of glaucoma increases with age, with most glaucoma patients aged 40 and up. That said, there is a much rarer form of this disease (congenital glaucoma) that affects infants.

  • Family History & Ethnicity

    Your risk for developing glaucoma is higher if you have a family history of the disease. Those of African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American, and Indigenous Canadian descent have a higher risk of developing this disease.

  • Other Conditions

    High myopia, hypertension and diabetes can increase the risk of developing glaucoma.

  • Eye Injury or Trauma

    An eye injury, trauma or eye surgery can increase the likelihood of developing glaucoma.


Common Glaucoma Treatments

There is currently no cure for glaucoma. However, several treatments are available to prevent the progression of this sight-robbing condition. With the right care, you have a higher chance of managing your glaucoma and preserving your vision.

Common treatments include:

Eye Drops

Your optometrist will prescribe eye drops to help regulate pressure inside the eye by decreasing fluid production and/or improving drainage.

Laser Surgery

If eye drops aren’t doing enough to reduce intraocular pressure or intraocular temperature in open-angle glaucoma, laser surgery may be an option. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) opens up the drainage system in the eye to reduce pressure.

SLT is successful in 80% of cases and can reduce eye pressure by 20%.

Other Surgeries

If a laser procedure or eye drops do not lower eye pressure to the desired level, your eye doctor may recommend one of the following surgeries:

  • Incision Surgery
  • Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
  • Glaucoma Drainage Implants

Glaucoma Testing Treatment FAQs

How does an eye doctor diagnose glaucoma?

Since glaucoma has no side effects early on, it is essential for people with a family history of risk factors for glaucoma to get tested. The following tests diagnose glaucoma:

  • Tonometry: measures the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure or IOP)
  • Ophthalmoscopy (dilated eye exam): examines the shape and color of the optic nerve
  • Perimetry: measures your field of vision
  • Gonioscopy: checks the angle where the iris meets the cornea
  • Pachymetry: determines the thickness of the cornea to better evaluate eye pressure.
What foods should you avoid if you have glaucoma?

The following are the foods every glaucoma patient should consider avoiding immediately. It should help keep your optic nerve healthy and minimize eye pressure.

  • Caffeine - certain studies show that caffeine contributes to increased intraocular pressure.
  • Saturated fats - a diet high in saturated fats can lead to weight gain, which not only increases intraocular pressure but also cholesterol levels.
  • Trans fats - try to limit your consumption of trans fats because they can also raise cholesterol levels
  • Salt - make sure to consume salt sparingly, as increased blood pressure can indirectly lead to intraocular pressure.
What percentage of glaucoma patients go blind?

About 60% of patients diagnosed with glaucoma will eventually lose some vision.

However, the rate of legal blindness among glaucoma patients is 5%. Getting effective treatment early on will greatly increase your ability to preserve and maximize your vision.

Patient Reviews
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32 Reviews
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- Oct. 01, 2024
What a pleasant experience. Clarissa was great. Dr. Chacko was very personable and knowledgeable. I ... will be seeing them next year!
- Dec. 14, 2023
State of the Art Technology and Service
- Jan. 31, 2023
Love this place !!!
- Apr. 16, 2022
Always friendly and professional
- May. 04, 2021
Dr Flanders and his staff are extremely nice and very helpful. Dr Flanders explained everything to m... e and was very calm and patient. He is #1 in Houston so go here and stop looking. I am so glad I found his practice it’s so cozy and in a wonderful area. Thank you guys!! You are all super awesome
- Jan. 21, 2020
Good service. Friendly and professional
- Oct. 30, 2019
Great friendly staff, first time being here and had a great experience, dr is very detailed and expl... ains the exam. Took some images of my eyes and the doctor was great explaining on the health of my vision. I really recommended to anyone looking for a great service. The lady in the front was able to help me find my insurance and helped me find a great pair of glasses.
- Mar. 25, 2019
I had a great experience with Dr. Flanders. This was my first visit to this clinic, and he took time... to listen to my prior issues with wearing contacts, and he diagnosed me with astigmatism that other optometrists had not diagnosed. He helped me find contacts that would help with that issue, and he even tried a few different prescriptions to make sure they were the perfect fit. For the first time, I can see perfectly and am comfortable wearing contacts. When it was time to pick out glasses, one of the ladies in the office nicely offered to help me choose, and she gave feedback as I tried on at least 20 pairs. She also gave me options for frames that were within my insurance coverage and price range. Also, their Saturday hours are great for people that work Monday - Friday. I appreciate their help and flexibility!
- Mar. 23, 2019
Good and satisfied. With out insurance it would cost $85.
- Sep. 26, 2018
I was very happy with the time Doctor Flanders took to listen to my eye problems and, then, find the... best solution for me. He took the time to conduct a thorough exam, then explain the results to me.
- Mar. 01, 2018
Dr. Flanders is the best eye doctor I've seen since I started wearing contacts! I went to see him as... a new patient, thinking my eyes were getting worse, but it turns out my contacts were not the right fit. He took the time to examine my eyes and had me try on 3 different types of contact lenses until I found the perfect fit. I left seeing more clearly and it was overall a great experience. I highly recommend him!
- Jan. 01, 2018
I have been a customer of Today's Vision for almost twenty years and I would not think of going to a... nother optical store! Dr. Flanders, is an excellent eye doctor and I would never want to trust my eyes to another doctor! When I step inside the store I immediately see the kind and cheerful faces I have seen for close to twenty years, sitting at the same desk...Richard and Cheryl, and everytime, it's like seeing old friends once again! The service is excellent, the envoirnment is clean and the eye care and eye wear is up to date! I would reccommend this Today's Vision, located in Rice Village to anyone who ask... in a heart beat!
- Aug. 01, 2017
Best eye doctor I have ever been to--thorough and pleasant. Really appreciated the technology that a... llowed a detailed eye exam without pupil dilation.
- Jun. 18, 2016
Have been going here for more than 15 years. Excellent. Good selection of glasses and fast on the co... ntacts. Highly recommend Dr. Flanders.
- Apr. 25, 2016
I've been going there for years and now my son goes too. I'd highly recommend Dr. Flanders and his ... whole staff. Great people! Great service!
- Mar. 29, 2016
They have been taking care of our eyes for over 20 years. We love Dr Flanders and his staff!!
- Sep. 29, 2015
Great staff. Doctors are very good - They explain all tests and results thoroughly. I recently reco... mmended several family members to this location in Rice Village.
- Jul. 13, 2015
Extremely friendly and helpful staff from beginning to end. Dr. Sims was thorough, explained everyth... ing he would be doing and why, and then walked me through my issues. When it was time to get glasses, someone from the front desk helped me for a solid 10 minutes pick out frames that looked best on me, which I was really thankful for. I'll definitely recommend them to friends and family who go to the eye doctor!
- Jun. 02, 2015
Consistently great customer service - they're very friendly and they make it easy to schedule appoin... tments and order contacts.
- Apr. 24, 2015
I have been going to Dr. Bob since he opened up the office. All of the employees are courteous and k... nowledgeable. They help me pick out my frames when I can't decide between several pairs.

View All 32 Reviews

Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment in University Place

Our optometry practice in University Place

Photograph of Yasmine Sanaei
Hours
  • Monday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife
  • Spectera
  • VSP

glaucoma surgery

Don’t lose sight of your future.

With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can be controlled.

(713) 521-2020