Glaucoma

Protect Your Vision with Fellowship-Trained Glaucoma Specialists

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss and is often called the "silent thief of sight" because it can develop without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. CEENTA's fellowship-trained glaucoma specialists provide advanced diagnostic testing, personalized treatment plans, and the latest surgical options to help preserve your vision and quality of life.

Whether you have recently been diagnosed with glaucoma, have a family history of the disease, or are experiencing elevated eye pressure, our team offers comprehensive glaucoma care throughout the Charlotte region.

Schedule an Appointment with a CEENTA Glaucoma Specialist

I and all of Dr. Shobit Rastogi's glaucoma patients are lucky to have him as our ophthalmologist.

- Jim S.

Read About Jim's Glaucoma Care at CEENTA

Frequently Asked Questions About Glaucoma

1. What is glaucoma?
2. What causes glaucoma?
3. What are risk factors for glaucoma?
4. How is glaucoma diagnosed?
5. Glaucoma treatment options
6. Why choose CEENTA for glaucoma care?
7. Schedule your glaucoma evaluation in the Charlotte area

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. In many cases, this damage is associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), though glaucoma can occur even when eye pressure appears normal.

Common Symptoms

Glaucoma often develops without symptoms during its earliest stages. As the disease progresses, patients may experience:

• Loss of peripheral (side) vision
• Blind spots in vision
• Difficulty seeing in low light
• Progressive vision loss
• Elevated eye pressure
• In advanced cases, significant loss of sight

Why Early Detection Matters

Vision loss from glaucoma is permanent. However, regular eye exams and early treatment can significantly reduce the risk of severe vision impairment and blindness.

What causes Glaucoma?

Inside the eye, a clear fluid called aqueous humor circulates continuously. When this fluid cannot drain properly, pressure can build inside the eye and damage the optic nerve. This damage may lead to progressive vision loss. [ceenta.com]

Several forms of glaucoma exist, including:

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

The most common type of glaucoma occurs when the eye's drainage system becomes less effective over time. Although the drainage angle remains open, fluid does not leave the eye efficiently, causing pressure to rise. Most patients notice no symptoms until vision loss has already occurred.

Secondary Glaucoma

Secondary glaucoma develops because of another eye condition, injury, medication, or health issue. Causes may include:

• Eye trauma
• Eye inflammation
• Diabetes-related eye disease
• Retinal blood vessel disorders
• Long-term steroid use
• Eye tumors
• Pigment dispersion syndrome 

Congenital Glaucoma

This rare condition occurs in infants and young children when the eye's drainage system does not develop properly before birth.

What are risk factors for glaucoma?

You may have a higher risk of developing glaucoma if you:

• Are over age 40
• Have a family history of glaucoma
• Are of African American or Hispanic heritage
• Have diabetes
• Have high blood pressure
• Experience migraines
• Have poor circulation
• Are significantly farsighted or nearsighted
• Have thin corneas

If you have multiple risk factors, regular eye exams become even more important for protecting your long-term vision.

How Is glaucoma diagnosed? 

A comprehensive glaucoma evaluation may include: 

• Eye pressure testing (tonometry)
• Optic nerve examination
• Visual field testing
• Corneal thickness measurement
• Digital retinal imaging
• OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) scans
• Gonioscopy to evaluate the drainage angle

Our specialists use advanced technology to detect glaucoma as early as possible, often before vision loss becomes noticeable.

Glaucoma treatment options

The goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower eye pressure and slow or prevent additional optic nerve damage. While glaucoma cannot be cured, it can often be controlled with ongoing monitoring and treatment.

Prescription Eye Drops

Many patients begin treatment with medicated eye drops designed to reduce eye pressure by decreasing fluid production or improving drainage.

Laser Glaucoma Treatment

Laser procedures can help improve fluid drainage and reduce intraocular pressure. For some patients, laser treatment may reduce the need for daily medications.

MIGS (Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery)

Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery is changing the way glaucoma is managed by offering effective treatment with less surgical trauma, faster recovery, and reduced dependence on medications.

iStent

The FDA-approved iStent is one of the smallest medical devices available. Implanted during cataract surgery, it improves the eye's natural drainage system and helps lower eye pressure while preserving healthy eye tissue.

Potential benefits include:

• Reduced eye pressure
• Fewer glaucoma medications
• Excellent safety profile
• Long-term pressure management

XEN Gel Stent

The XEN Gel Stent is a minimally invasive procedure designed to significantly lower eye pressure while reducing medication dependence. It can often be used in patients with moderate to advanced glaucoma and may be performed even if cataract surgery has already been completed.

Benefits may include:

• Lower eye pressure
• Faster recovery
• Reduced surgical risk
• Treatment for more advanced glaucoma cases

Durysta

Durysta is a dissolvable implant that continuously releases medication inside the eye to help reduce pressure and minimize the burden of daily eye drops.

Tube Shunt Surgery

For patients whose glaucoma cannot be adequately controlled with medications, laser treatments, or other procedures, a glaucoma drainage implant (tube shunt) may be recommended.

The device helps redirect fluid to a different area of the eye, where it can be naturally absorbed by the body, lowering pressure and helping preserve vision.

iDose TR Implant

The iDose TR is an FDA-approved titanium implant inserted inside the eye to continually release travoprost medication. This allows for long-term lowering of eye pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. iDose is ideal for patients who have eye irritation from daily drops or are inconsistent with their dosage. 

Benefits may include:

• Reduced dependence on daily eye drops
• Continuous medication delivery 2/47
• Up to two years of potential pressure control

Why choose CEENTA for glaucoma care?

• Fellowship-trained glaucoma specialists
• Advanced diagnostic technology
• Medical, laser, and surgical treatment options
• Expertise in MIGS procedures
• Personalized treatment plans
• Multiple convenient Charlotte-area locations 

Our specialists are committed to helping patients maintain their vision through proactive monitoring, innovative treatment options, and long-term glaucoma management.

Schedule your glaucoma evaluation in the Charlotte area

If you are concerned about glaucoma, have a family history of the disease, or have been told you have elevated eye pressure, don't wait for symptoms to appear.

Schedule a comprehensive glaucoma examination with a CEENTA specialist today and take the next step toward protecting your vision.

Schedule an Appointment with a CEENTA Glaucoma Specialist

eyeSmart® Eye health information from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The Eye M.D. Association.