Glaucoma Specialist in San Francisco
Proactive Glaucoma Testing, Monitoring, and Treatment to Help Preserve Vision
At Mosaddegh Eye Institute, our team provides glaucoma management in San Francisco with advanced diagnostic testing, careful pressure monitoring, and personalized treatment planning. Because glaucoma can damage the optic nerve before symptoms appear, early detection and consistent follow-up are essential. We evaluate eye pressure, optic nerve health, visual field changes, and risk factors to create a plan designed to slow progression and help protect long-term vision.
Patients trust our practice for comprehensive glaucoma care, including eye drops, laser treatment, surgical referral when needed, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery options such as iStent, OMNI Surgical System, and iDose when clinically appropriate.
Glaucoma Explained: Why Early Detection Matters
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve, the structure that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. It is often linked to elevated eye pressure, but glaucoma can also occur when pressure is within a normal range. The condition is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness, especially when it is not diagnosed and monitored early.
Many patients do not notice symptoms in the early stages. A simple pressure check alone is not enough. A complete glaucoma eye exam may include optic nerve evaluation, eye pressure measurement, visual field testing, retinal nerve fiber analysis, and drainage angle assessment.
Open-Angle Glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. It usually develops slowly when the eye’s drainage system does not move fluid out as efficiently as it should. As fluid outflow becomes less effective, eye pressure may rise and gradually damage the optic nerve.
This type of glaucoma is often painless and may cause no early vision changes. Regular monitoring is important because some patients can have optic nerve damage even with pressure readings that appear normal.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when the iris is positioned close to the eye’s drainage angle and blocks fluid from leaving the eye. If the drainage angle becomes suddenly blocked, eye pressure can rise quickly. This is an emergency and may cause eye pain, headache, nausea, halos, redness, or sudden blurred vision.
Some patients develop chronic angle-closure glaucoma more gradually, with few or no symptoms at first. A comprehensive exam helps determine whether the drainage angle is narrow and whether preventive or urgent treatment is needed.
Glaucoma Symptoms
Glaucoma symptoms can be subtle or completely absent in the early stages. As the disease progresses, patients may notice loss of peripheral vision, blurred vision, trouble adjusting to low light, halos around lights, or reduced central vision in advanced cases.
Because vision loss from glaucoma is usually permanent, routine glaucoma screening and complete eye exams are the best way to detect damage early and begin treatment before major vision changes occur.
Glaucoma Treatment Options in San Francisco
Eye Drops
Glaucoma eye drops are often the first treatment used to lower eye pressure. Some drops reduce fluid production inside the eye, while others improve fluid drainage. Consistent daily use is important, and medications should not be changed or stopped without guidance from an ophthalmologist.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment for glaucoma may help improve fluid drainage and lower eye pressure. Trabeculoplasty may be used for open-angle glaucoma, while laser iridotomy may be recommended for narrow angles or angle-closure risk. The right option depends on your eye anatomy and disease stage.
Surgery
For some patients, glaucoma surgery may be needed to create a new drainage pathway or improve fluid outflow. Surgical options may include trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage devices, cataract surgery with glaucoma procedures, or other approaches based on the severity of the disease.
Monitoring and Follow-up
Glaucoma monitoring is essential because the condition can progress silently. Follow-up visits may include pressure checks, optic nerve imaging, visual field testing, and medication review. These visits help adjust treatment before additional vision loss occurs.
What is Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)?
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) refers to modern procedures designed to lower eye pressure using small incisions and microscopic devices. MIGS may be considered for selected patients with mild to moderate glaucoma, sometimes at the time of cataract surgery. Dr. Lillie Mosaddegh offers advanced glaucoma options including iStent, OMNI Surgical System, and iDose when appropriate for the patient’s condition.
- iStent is a micro-invasive glaucoma device that can help improve aqueous humor outflow in patients with open-angle glaucoma.
- The OMNI Surgical System combines canaloplasty and trabeculotomy to help enhance natural drainage pathways and reduce eye pressure.
- iDose is a sustained-release implant designed to deliver glaucoma medication over time and help lower eye pressure in appropriate patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Glaucoma often has no early warning signs. Many patients feel normal until peripheral vision is already affected. That is why a complete glaucoma eye exam is important, especially for patients with risk factors.
Risk factors for glaucoma include age over 40, family history, elevated eye pressure, thin corneas, diabetes, high blood pressure, migraines, previous eye injury, long-term steroid use, and African, Hispanic, or Asian ancestry.
Glaucoma diagnosis requires a comprehensive eye exam. Testing may include eye pressure measurement, optic nerve evaluation, visual field testing, OCT nerve imaging, corneal thickness measurement, and drainage angle evaluation.
Vision loss from glaucoma is usually permanent. Treatment is focused on lowering eye pressure, slowing progression, and preserving the remaining vision through careful monitoring and consistent care.
Glaucoma treatment in San Francisco may include prescription eye drops, laser treatment, surgical procedures, and MIGS options such as iStent, OMNI, or iDose for appropriate candidates.
Schedule a Glaucoma Evaluation in San Francisco
If you have a family history of glaucoma, elevated eye pressure, vision changes, or risk factors, a comprehensive glaucoma evaluation can help detect problems early and guide the right treatment plan.
