Glaucoma Treatment
in Buffalo, NY

What Is Glaucoma?

If you’re diagnosed with glaucoma, it means you have one of a group of eye diseases that cause the pressure inside the eye to increase, damaging the optic nerve and leading to vision loss. At Buffalo Ophthalmology, we work with patients to help identify this condition as early as possible, manage symptoms, and provide treatment for glaucoma before vision loss occurs.

Glaucoma is common — one of the leading causes of blindness for people over 60 years of age — but that doesn’t mean a diagnosis isn’t a scary proposition. Here’s why:

Glaucoma comes on without symptoms: Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief in the night” because of the way it tends to develop without symptoms. A glaucoma diagnosis can come as a surprise.

Glaucoma is a chronic, progressing illness: Once glaucoma is diagnosed, it continues to increase in severity the longer it goes without treatment. The further it progresses, the more difficult it is to treat.

Glaucoma causes blindness: As it progresses, glaucoma can cause irreversible vision loss, underlining the fact that early diagnosis and specialized treatment is critical to save your vision.

Glaucoma is common — one of the leading causes of blindness for people over 60 years of age — but that doesn’t mean a diagnosis isn’t a scary proposition. Here’s why:

Glaucoma comes on without symptoms: Glaucoma is often called the “sneak thief of sight” because of the way it tends to develop without symptoms. A glaucoma diagnosis can come as a surprise.

Glaucoma causes blindness: As it progresses, glaucoma can cause irreversible vision loss, underlining the fact that early diagnosis and specialized treatment is critical to save your vision.

ONE OF BUFFALO’S PREMIER GLAUCOMA SPECIALISTS

Glaucoma looks different in different patients, and there are several different types of the disease to contend with. It’s difficult to diagnose and the complexities that come with managing and treating glaucoma highlight some of the reasons why patients should seek an experienced glaucoma specialist for their care.

At Buffalo Ophthalmology, we have the experience and the expertise needed to provide exceptional care and a great experience. We have virtually every treatment option at our disposal. And, we have a compassionate team of doctors and staff to guide you through your experience.

Because of the long-term, chronic nature of glaucoma, the relationship you have with your doctor is critical — we take the time to get to know you, walk you through your options for treatment, and establish a personal relationship with you as we work together to manage your disease over time.

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Deepan Selvadurai, M.D.

Our Buffalo glaucoma specialist is Dr. Deepan Selvadurai, an established ophthalmologist in Western New York known for his experience and ability with even the most complex glaucoma cases.

Dr. Selvadurai is board certified and fellowship trained, having trained under the some of the nation’s leading glaucoma specialists at top medical institutions across the continent, and in over a decade in private practice, has helped over 10,000 patients receive the capable care they deserve.

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How Buffalo Ophthalmology Approaches Glaucoma Treatment

Whether you made the decision to come to us on your own or were referred here by your optometrist or primary care doctor, Dr. Deepan Selvadurai and his team will start by getting a full understanding of your case.

Since every patient is unique, we’ll start by using advanced diagnostic and imaging technology to assess your case. Along the way, we’ll provide education and help you understand what’s going on with your eyes to remove some of the fear you may be experiencing.

At Buffalo Ophthalmology, we offer a wide range of treatment options for glaucoma. Management of your condition will be a decision we make together, based on the severity of your disease and your visual quality.

GLAUCOMA TREATMENT IN BUFFALO

Glaucoma treatment is aimed at lowering the eye’s internal pressure, improving drainage of fluid from the eye, and halting damage to the optic nerve. The course of treatment that Dr. Deepan Selvadurai will recommend in your case depends on the progression of your condition, the type of glaucoma you have, and what will make the largest positive impact. Here are some of the options we have at our disposal:

Medicated Eye Drops

When glaucoma is identified early, medicated eye drops can slow the progression of the disease before vision loss occurs. When used as directed, drops lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in one of two ways: depending on the specific medication, they either reduce the amount of fluid produced by the eye or improve the drainage of fluid from the eye.

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Laser Eye Surgeries

Depending on the type of glaucoma you have, laser surgery may be an effective way to lower pressure. In Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), we open and enhance the existing drainage angle opening, helping fluid flow from the eye more efficiently. In an Iridotomy, we use a laser to make a tiny hole in the iris to prevent and possibly relieve built up pressure. Most times, the treatment is done prior to a buildup of pressure.

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Trabeculectomy

A trabeculectomy is a surgery in which your doctor will create a small flap in the white of the eye and add a tiny pocket in the conjunctiva (the protective tissue covering the white of your eye and the inside of the eyelids) using a surgical tool. This allows fluid to drain through the flap and into the pocket, before being absorbed by the surrounding tissue. In some cases, an ExPRESS shunt could be employed to enhance and improve the safety of the procedure.

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Shunts, Stents, and Valves

These are tiny tube-like implants that help intraocular fluid drain from the inside of the eye by creating new drainage channels or holding open existing channels. There are many different types and brands of these devices on the market, each of them effective for specific patients in certain cases.

Dr. Selvadurai performs Ahmed, Baerveldt and Clearpath valves. He has experience with Xen and natural drain based devices like iStent, Cypass, Hydrus.

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Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)

MIGS is a group of surgical procedures that are less invasive and in turn, reduce the potential side effects from surgery. At Buffalo Ophthalmology, we use many MIGS approaches, including the OMNI Surgical System, which allows us to perform precise operations targeting multiple different areas of drainage resistance. Dr. Deepan Selvadurai was the first in the country to perform this operation, which can be done in less than 15 minutes — check out this article about the life-changing impact MIGS can make for a patient with glaucoma!

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OMNI^{®️️️️} Surgical System

Dr. Deepan Selvadurai was one of the first doctors in the country, and the first in Western New York, to adopt the OMNI^{®️️️️} Surgical Systems. This alleviates intraocular pressure (IOP) by addressing the three primary points of resistance in the eye’s fluid drainage system: the trabecular meshwork, Schlemm’s Canal, and episcleral veins. Improving outflow through these areas takes significant pressure off the optic nerve, preventing glaucoma from progressing. Take a look at this video to see how this innovative platform simplifies glaucoma surgery and delivers lasting benefits.

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