Glaucoma Treatment in Oak Lawn

Glaucoma Treatment in Oak Lawn

Don’t Let Glaucoma Rob You of Your Sight

(708) 229-2200

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. Advanced Eye Care Professionals 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 Advanced Eye Care Professionals, 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 Oak Lawn


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 Advanced Eye Care Professionals in Oak Lawn 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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216 Reviews
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- Nov. 15, 2024
Always a pleasant experience. Dr. Hogan always provide my son and I with exceptional service and car... e. She is truly one of a kind!
- Oct. 23, 2024
Great to deal with, easy to schedule appointments, and they always take care of everything with insu... rance. Dr. Polanek is awesome. After several failed eyeglass prescriptions over the years, she properly fitted me with RGP lenses and it has been life changing.
- Oct. 19, 2024
Strongly recommend! Great with kids and they listen. My youngest had to start with glasses in Kinder... garten. I am now going here myself after going to many other places that said I did not need glasses.
- Oct. 08, 2024
I have been going to Advanced Eye Care for many years and I absolutely love them! Everyone is knowle... dgeable, helpful and friendly. I highly recommend them.
- Sep. 23, 2024
The staff is friendly and helpful. Dr Hogan is amazing
- Sep. 22, 2024
Advanced eye care professionals alway exceed expectations and are very knowledgeable. They really c... are about their patients.
- Sep. 20, 2024
Staff explained everything and made it comfortable for my daughter and myself to get our eye exams.
- Sep. 17, 2024
Dr. O has been doing my exams for years, always fantastic!! The staff were amazing as well.
- Sep. 09, 2024
I SEE DR. HOGAN EVERY YEAR FOR ANNUAL EYE EXAMS. SHE IS A WONDERFUL DOCTOR AND I FEEL CONFIDENT IN ... HER SKILLS. SHE IS THOROUGH AND VERY CARING.
- Jun. 12, 2024
Love the personal attention, no rushing and great customer service.
- Jun. 11, 2024
Dr. Opferman was fantastic, as always!
- May. 26, 2024
Highly recommend Dr. Tiffany Polanek and the whole staff at Advanced Eye Care. The whole process of ... making an appointment to the communication, to the actual appointment itself is a well oiled machine.
- May. 12, 2024
This place is fantastic. I loved everyone I saw that day. I just wish they had Saturday hours. I... 'm a school teacher with an evening job as well. The lack of Saturday hours made picking up my item difficult. I had to take time off work to go pick up my glasses. That was the only issue. My original appointment was during spring break but the pick up time was a few weeks later.
- May. 09, 2024
Advanced Eye Care is a great place. I wouldn't go anywhere else. Dr. Hogan is kind and very profess... ional. Her staff is great. They called me when an earlier appointment opened up just like they said they would. I would highly recommend!
- May. 09, 2024
AEP is a great place to have your peepers checked and Dr. Polanek is a top notch doctor!!
- Apr. 11, 2024
No wait, great doc and warm staff. Great experience.
- Mar. 29, 2024
I have been coming here for three years and I absolutely love the doctors and staff. Everyone is ama... zing.
- Mar. 04, 2024
Dr Hogan and her staff are friendly, professional and highly experienced. I would not trust anyone ... else to provide care to my daughters.
- Feb. 27, 2024
Dr. Polanek is the best. Very friendly and great bedside manner. Highly recommend her if you are loo... king for an eye doctor.
- Feb. 27, 2024
I had very red eyes and I did not know what it was took the doctor 15 minutes to find out I have pin... k eye. Gave me medicine and said I am good to go. They were fast and not messing around 5 stars

View All 216 Reviews

Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment in Oak Lawn

Our optometry practice in Oak Lawn

Photograph of Casey Hogan
Hours
  • Monday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Thursday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday Closed
  • Saturday By Appointment Only
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Anthem
  • EyeMed
  • Metlife

glaucoma surgery

Don’t lose sight of your future.

With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can be controlled.

(708) 229-2200