Glaucoma Treatment in Barrington

Glaucoma Treatment in Barrington

Don’t Let Glaucoma Rob You of Your Sight

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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. Barrington Eye Care 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.

Preserve Your Vision For Longer

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 Barrington Eye Care, 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 Barrington


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 Barrington Eye Care in Barrington 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.


Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment in Barrington

Our optometry practice in Barrington

Photograph of Joseph Aschenbrenner
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • Davis Vision
  • United Healthcare
  • Spectera
  • Anthem
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • MetLife
  • Blue Cross
  • Aetna

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
Patient Reviews
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125 Reviews
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- Apr. 26, 2024
Went to Barrington Eye Care for my annual eye exam after moving out in the area. I had no major conc... erns with my vision however I wanted to stay on top of everything. Everyone at Barrington Eye Care was kind and helpful, and extremely thorough in explaining everything and making sure I had no questions.
- Apr. 24, 2024
The practice runs on-time, the findings are thoroughly explained. The staff is very pleasant to work... with.
- Mar. 23, 2024
Always good service.
- Mar. 21, 2024
Everyone is so amazing, super friendly environment. They make you feel right at home. I’d give the... m 100 stars if it left me. Everyone makes you feel right at home and they make the experience extremely comfortable. I’ve only been in the barrington area for 2 years now and they’re one of the reasons that made the move worth it. All around amazing in every category !
- Feb. 28, 2024
Dr. Lisa Kowar is brilliant. She also is kind and respectful and a good listener. We travel from Chi... cago to see her -- 'nuff said!
- Feb. 06, 2024
Dr. Lisa Kowar is wonderful.She helped me resolve an eye infection and I am very grateful. She is ex... tremely knowledgable, efficient and professional. Thank you Dr. Kowar.
- Feb. 03, 2024
Great staff and Drs! Everyone was so friendly and professional
- Nov. 16, 2023
Dr. Kate is a knowledgeable and caring professional seeking the optimal results. She brought new ins... ights to my follow-up appointment and suggested alternative approaches to correct my vision. Thank you, Dr. Kate!
- Nov. 10, 2023
Got a same day appointment when I needed it and the doctor was fabulous
- Nov. 02, 2023
Best place for complete eye solution. I had an appointment with Dr. Kate Schooley. She was responsiv... e to all my questions and paid great attention examining my eye.
- Oct. 21, 2023
The best place to get glasses. Great selection, great prices, and great staff to help with picking a... pair a glasses.
- Oct. 02, 2023
All of the staff is very professional and my eye dr is so efficient and very nice.
- Oct. 01, 2023
Excellent eye health care!
- Sep. 15, 2023
Dr. Kowar is fantastic! Highly recommend her to anyone looking for a quality eye exam with an exper... ienced and caring doctor.
- Sep. 11, 2023
Always happy with the experience.
- Aug. 31, 2023
Been a patient many years. Care is professional and prompt and friendly
- Aug. 11, 2023
Great customer service. Friendly staff. So helpful with picking out my new glasses.
- Jul. 22, 2023
We love everything about Barrington eye care. We have been coming for 23+ years and highly recommend... . We now travel from Nashville annually to see them.
- Jun. 27, 2023
Barrington Eye Care has been our family eye doctor for decades. Impressive credentials of the docto... r/s, great customer service. Will happily recommend to anyone looking for eye care.
- May. 08, 2023
Great place, great selection! Get you in and out of their establishment quickly. Everyone was so so ... nice and helpful

View All 125 Reviews

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.


glaucoma surgery

Don’t lose sight of your future.

With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can be controlled.

Schedule Eye Exam