Treatments for Neovascular Glaucoma

Neovascular glaucoma is an eye condition in which new blood vessels grow, blocking the drain through which the nourishing fluid at the front of the eye flows. This painful blockage increases pressure inside the eye. Without treatment, this pressure may destroy vision. What follow are some treatment options your doctor might suggest to help you get through neovascular glaucoma.

Reducing the Pressure

• Your doctor's first priority will be to make sure you don't go blind. In order to do this, the pressure in your eye must be reduced. This can be done via a number of methods. First, your doctor will likely prescribe you a medication to help reduce the amount of fluid in your eye. This medication can be in the form of eye drops or a pill such as acetozolamide.

Getting to The Root of the Problem

• The immediate cause of neovascular glaucoma is the growth of new blood vessels in the eye. This growth can be caused by a number of factors, such as blood clots, shifts in blood flow to the eye, or a detached retina. These changes cause malnourishment in the eye, which grows
  new blood vessels in order to transport the nutrients you need.

  The growth and spread of these blood vessels is what your doctor will want to eliminate next. The first option is to lessen the pressure using laser treatment. Sometimes, if the laser doesn't work, the situation may necessitate a freezing procedure called cryotherapy, in which your doctor will freeze your retina.

  If these treatments fail to stem the growth of new blood vessels or decrease eye pressure, your doctor may resort to surgery. In a trabeculectomy, a seton (a tiny tube) is used to drain the fluid from your eye.

  As a last resort, your doctor could suggest cyclodestructive surgery. This procedure uses a combination of freezing or laser techniques to reduce the flow of fluid in your eye.

Caution

• It's important to see your doctor if you believe you're having trouble with your eyes. The earlier you catch neovascular glaucoma, the better chance you have at overcoming the condition. If you're experiencing sudden pain in your eye or have an extended period of ocular discomfort, seek professional medical advice.