COVINGTON, LA—For the first time in Louisiana, patients with glaucoma have the option to choose Trabectome to stabilize vision and decrease eye pressure.
Used throughout the country, the procedure restores the natural pathways of the eye to control glaucoma. Trabectome is minimally invasive, requires little sedation, and patients generally recover within a week.
“We’re introducing this procedure at the STPH Covington Surgery Center,” ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist Edward Langlow MD said, “and we expect to prevent further damage within patients’ eyes. Some patients have been able to reduce or eliminate daily eye drops to regulate intraocular pressure.”
Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness, is a disease that causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve from increasing pressure within the eye. This occurs because the eye produces a clear fluid that does not drain adequately and raises the eye pressure. The first sign of glaucoma is a loss of peripheral vision that is usually not noticed by the patient until it affects the central vision. Unfortunately, vision lost to glaucoma can't be restored so treatment aims to reduce eye pressure to prevent further damage.
An estimated 4 million Americans are affected by glaucoma. Glaucoma screenings are suggested for anyone over 40 every two to four years. A routine exam can help identify risk for glaucoma and early signs of the disease. Risk factors for glaucoma include: a family history of the disease, African or Hispanic ancestry, diabetes, certain rare eye diseases and having had an eye injury or having used any corticosteroid preparation for a prolonged period.
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A full-service acute care facility committed to providing world-class healthcare and the latest technology, St. Tammany Parish Hospital delivers today’s life-improving procedures with the utmost care to area residents with emphasis on wellness, preventive care and disease management close to home. STPH is a self-supporting not-for-profit community hospital; it receives no tax funding. STPH.org |