Glaucoma Basics from the National Eye Institute

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises. However, with early treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss.

What is the optic nerve?

The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers. It connects the retina to the brain. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for good vision.

Glaucoma Surgery with Dr. Goldman

There are a variety of treatments used to control glaucoma, depending on the type and severity of the condition. Treatments may include Laser surgery, conventional surgery, medicine, or a combination of treatments.

Dr. Goldman will examine your eye at his office, further explain your condition, and recommend a plan of action aimed at relieving the pressure in your eye.

Laser surgery is a routine procedure that only takes a few minutes. Dr. Goldman will use the Laser to stretch the drainage holes in your eye, allowing fluid to escape more easily. The procedure takes only a few minutes to complete.

Laser surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure at St. Lukes Hospital in Newburgh, and will soon move to the new surgicenter currently under construction in Cornwall. Patients typically arrive mid-morning, and spend roughly an hour at the hospital, most of which is spent filling out paperwork.

To set up a glaucoma screening at our Cornwall office, call us at (845) 534-2424. We monitor our voicemail seven days a week, so feel free to leave a message after normal office hours.