Glaucoma Treatment in Centerville

Glaucoma Treatment in Centerville

Don’t Let Glaucoma Rob You of Your Sight

(641) 437-4099

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. International Eyecare Center - Centerville 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 International Eyecare Center - Centerville, 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 Centerville


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 International Eyecare Center - Centerville in Centerville 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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176 Reviews
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- Jun. 13, 2024
Friendly and knowledgeable, i would recommend
- Mar. 30, 2024
Very helpful
- Dec. 19, 2023
Wonderful exam and glasses purchasing experience. Would recommend to anyone and will be back in the ... future.
- Dec. 01, 2023
Everyone was very helpful and polite.
- Oct. 07, 2023
I was and done quickly.
- Aug. 14, 2023
Friendly welcoming staff and Dr. Guinn was very thorough and professional. Could use better magazine... s for the short time spent in the waiting room.
- Jun. 15, 2023
Great Doctor, great staff. Very reassuring that my retina was ok. Very friendly, very calming. Expla... ined everything in terms I can understand.
- Jun. 12, 2023
Very Caring Staff and well experienced as well as the Dr. very welcoming and takes care of my eyes a... s good as I can expect. My glasses are very awesome. Thank you IEC for being in Centerville, Iowa
- Jun. 10, 2023
Awesome staff!!
- Jun. 07, 2023
The staff and Dr. Alletto were very helpful and explained the exam and results in a way I could easi... ly understand! Thanks for a great first experience with an eye exam!
- May. 13, 2023
Fast friendly, very professional and detailed evaluation.
- May. 02, 2023
Great doctor, staff and quick exam time in and out under 30 minutes.
- Apr. 11, 2023
They are wonderful!!!
- Apr. 06, 2023
My new glasses that they helped me find in the beginning of new glasses search I so wasn't looking f... or these I was looking for something with smaller frames. But ended up loving these
- Mar. 25, 2023
Great Staff!! Highly recommend!!
- Mar. 22, 2023
Great staff! Very wonderful and friendly place. Would highly recommend to everyone especially if you... want fast appointments and accurate answers
- Mar. 21, 2023
great people
- Feb. 08, 2023
Great experience at IEC in Centerville, IA. Wonderful staff! Very helpful and friendly! Dr Daniel Al... letto is a great well educated doctor! They have state of the art equipment to test your eyes. We love going there!
- Nov. 30, 2022
Great staff friendly and informative.
- Oct. 09, 2022
I love the staff and the doctor. Everyone is very friendly and attentive to any need I may have. I h... ave never had a negative experience in all the years I've been going to IEC.

View All 176 Reviews

Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment in Centerville

Our optometry practice in Centerville

Photograph of Daniel  Alletto
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 3rd Saturday by appointment only.
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • Aetna
  • Anthem
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Spectera
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • Medicaid
  • MetLife
  • National Vision Administration (NVA)

glaucoma surgery

Don’t lose sight of your future.

With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can be controlled.

(641) 437-4099