Glaucoma Treatment in St. Louis

Glaucoma Treatment in St. Louis

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. Crown Vision Center - Mackenzie 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 Crown Vision Center - Mackenzie, 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 St. Louis


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 Crown Vision Center - Mackenzie in St. Louis 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 St. Louis

Our optometry practice in St. Louis

Photograph of Alexa Kojima
Hours
  • Monday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
  • Dec. 25 Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife

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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202 Reviews
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- Dec. 08, 2023
Very helpful and didn't have to wait, took time to help with everything and explain everything to me... , awesome.
- Nov. 07, 2023
The service was smooth sailing. This is an organized business. They were professional and honest.
- Aug. 05, 2023
Staff were very friendly, supportive and helpful. Staff took time to answer questions and help me pi... ck out my first pair of glasses! Enjoyed my experience here and would recommend!
- Jul. 21, 2023
Outstanding experience! Everyone was very nice and wonderful to interact with. No upselling and pric... es are very reasonable. Thank you!
- Jun. 12, 2023
My first contact was with Sunny - and lives up to her name. What a ray of sunshine! Dr. Alexa was g... reat too. Best eyewear I've ever had. Love my glasses but most of all, love my Crown store! Sunny & Alexa are the Best!
- May. 06, 2023
The staff were very nice and helpful. They made sure I was happy with my glasses 🤓.
- Jan. 02, 2023
Everyone is so nice!
- Dec. 30, 2022
Everyone was so nice and welcoming. Dr. Kajima was kind and answered all of my questions. I wasn’t... pressured to buy glasses there either. I would recommend this place to anyone!
- Dec. 15, 2022
Been going here for a few years. Definitely recommend. Doctor is friendly and upbeat, staff is alway... s professional and friendly. Can't ask for more.
- Oct. 20, 2022
Staff was great. Extremely helpful and very friendly and informative. My glasses were ready for pick... up only 2 days after my exam. Definitely recommend!!!!!
- Aug. 06, 2022
Best getting glasses experience ever.
- Aug. 01, 2022
They are friendly and my son glasses came back very quickly
- Jul. 26, 2022
Everyone was friendly and welcoming.
- Jul. 21, 2022
Dr. Kojima is great! She is super nice and explains everything so thoroughly.Her office staff, Sunny... and Amanda, are great!
- Jul. 12, 2022
Staff is incredible! Thank you!
- Jul. 09, 2022
Sunny was great. This was my first visit but it will not be my last.
- Jul. 09, 2022
This office always has my best interests when it comes to my daughter and my eye health needs. The e... ntire staff here has the best bedside manners and the doctor here is wonderful!
- May. 23, 2022
The kindest team! Definitely go here!
- Feb. 07, 2022
Absolutely wonderful experience. Dr Sarah Davis was wonderful along with the entire staff. Not one s... ingle complaint. A+++ Team!
- Dec. 24, 2021
Dr. Emily O’Brien was excellent in helping me find the right set of contacts to use going forward.... I tried out several pairs over months of time and found the right combination for me. The staff was very friendly as I selected my frames for glasses. Everyone was always so helpful on every visit.

View All 202 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