Question
Hello
1. If glaucoma is in one eye, some doctors prescribe glaucoma drops for this eye, while some doctors prescribe glaucoma drops for both eyes. Why for both eyes?
2. Why gonioscopy of the patient of Open Angle Glaucoma done every year? Can Open Angle Glaucoma change in to Angle Closure Glaucoma, or change in to Mixed Glaucoma (i.e. Open Angle + Angle Closure)?
3. Laser Trabeculaplasty / Surgical Trabeculectomy is for Primary Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma. Laser Iridotomy / Laser Iridoplasty / Surgical Iridectomy, is for Primary Chronic Angle Closure Glaucoma. Which surgery is for Mixed Glaucoma (i.e. Open Angle + Angle Closure Glaucoma)?
Thank you.
Respectfully yours,
Naseem ( Glaucoma Patient )
Answer
Dear Naseem,
1. If glaucoma is in one eye, some doctors prescribe glaucoma drops for this eye, while some doctors prescribe glaucoma drops for both eyes. Why for both eyes?
A. If glaucoma has happened in one eye there is a likelihood of it happening in the other eye. Particularly those patients who are poor at followup or live far away, drops are put in both the eyes as a safety precaution since glaucoma is usually painless and irreversible.
2. Why gonioscopy of the patient of Open Angle Glaucoma done every year? Can Open Angle Glaucoma change in to Angle Closure Glaucoma, or change in to Mixed Glaucoma (i.e. Open Angle + Angle Closure)?
A. There is something called occludable angles that are narrow and threaten to close. Also there are other forms of glaucoma that block the angle such as pigmentary glaucoma. So one would like to e.g. look at the pigment deposition to plan further action.
3. Laser Trabeculaplasty / Surgical Trabeculectomy is for Primary Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma. Laser Iridotomy / Laser Iridoplasty / Surgical Iridectomy, is for Primary Chronic Angle Closure Glaucoma. Which surgery is for Mixed Glaucoma (i.e. Open Angle + Angle Closure Glaucoma)?
A. There is nothing like mixed glaucoma. There are secondary forms of glaucoma which may mimic one or both of the primary forms as they progress through their course.
Hope this helps,
If in Mumbai, we shall be glad to examine the patient and assist,
Dr Anand Shroff
Glaucoma specialist
Shroff Eye Hospital
Vision Research Centre
222 S V Road
Bandra (W)
Mumbai 400 050
Phone: +91-22-6692 1000
Fax: +91-22-6694 9880
email: shroffeye@vsnl.com
Shroff Eye Clinic
Gobind Mahal
86 - B Netaji Subhash Road
Mumbai 400 002
Phone: +91-22 - 22814077, 2811863, 22029242
Fax: +91-22 - 22812751
email: shroffeye@vsnl.com
Visit:
www.shroffeye.org
www.lasikindia.in
Shroff Eye Hospital is India's First Eye Hospital that the Joint Commission International (International Division of JCAHO, USA) has given accreditation for excellence in patient care and health care delivery. Shroff Eye is also India's first Wavelight Concerto 500Hz LASIK center.
