TREAT GLAUCOMA PAIN-FREE

 BY NORA HESTON TARTE

Over 40,000,000 people are affected by glaucoma worldwide. Classified as a chronic disease with optic nerve damage and loss of peripheral vision, glaucoma can be progressive and irreversible, and, in many cases, it causes a painless loss of sight.

The damage to the optic nerve in glaucoma is commonly caused by a high intraocular pressure. “It is well established that lowering the intraocular pressure can slow the process of optic nerve damage,” says Dr. Joseph Zeiter, Jr., an ophthalmologist at Zeiter Eye Medical Group. “The degree of pressure lowering necessary to prevent optic nerve damage is different for each person and each optic nerve.”

Treatment strategies for glaucoma ultimately are aimed at lowering eye pressure as much as possible, and advancements have led to easier and more effective ways to do so. Throughout the

U.S., eye drops are commonly the first line of defense against glaucoma. If that fails to produce maximum results, there are other medications that can be used to achieve the desired pressure level. “Unfortunately, there can be difficulties with compliance, cost, and side effects with many of these medications,” Dr. Zeiter says. As a result, laser therapy may be used instead of medication to decrease the eye pressure.

Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation, or ECP, is a laser treatment procedure that targets part of the eye called the ciliary body. This painless procedure takes approximately two to three minutes to complete. If you have glaucoma and are undergoing cataract surgery, ECP can be performed at the same time. However, ECP can also be performed without the cataract surgery.

The procedure includes using a small probe with a camera and laser. It targets the ciliary body, a ring of specialized cells underneath the iris (or colored part of the eye). Part of the ciliary body—the part of the eye responsible for aqueous fluid production—is then ablated. By decreasing production of this fluid, the eye pressure is automatically lowered. In some cases, this procedure may even allow patients to stop their eye drops. “The procedure is painless, often covered by insurance, and takes only a few minutes,” Dr. Zeiter says.

ECP is an option for many who suffer from glaucoma. When looking for the best treatment, you should work with a trusted eye doctor familiar with your eye disease and your options.

So, your child’s adult teeth have started to come in and you’re noticing some abnormalities in their smile. Most children’s adult teeth don’t grow in perfectly straight and braces or other correctors might be needed to assist with proper alignment. For many children, this process is pretty straight forward and involves 1-2 years of orthodontic treatment. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children are evaluated by an orthodontist at the age of 7. A majority of children will not receive their braces at that time but will instead continue annual evaluations with an orthodontist until they are ready.

At Samra Orthodontics, these evaluations are typically complimentary and involve creating a customized plan for the child’s ongoing orthodontic care. At annual appointments, the main objective is monitoring new teeth to ensure they are erupting into the proper positions and usually no early intervention, or Phase I treatment, is needed.

“However, early treatment is indicated in a small subset of children that have developmental issues with their jaws. This presents clinically as a multiple