EP # 17: Demystifying Glaucoma: Insights, Exams, and Collaborative Treatments

Unlock the mysteries of glaucoma with us as Dr. Laura Falco, joined by Jeremy Wolf, offers a deep dive into this often misunderstood eye condition during Glaucoma Awareness Month. Amidst our conversation, the nuances of ocular hypertension come to light, a condition marked by elevated eye pressure sans optic nerve damage. Dr. Falco, with her expert touch, demystifies the importance of regular eye exams, visual field tests, and OCT scans to safeguard the delicate nerve fiber layer that's vital for vision. Get to know the varied management strategies ranging from medication to potential surgical interventions as we navigate the complex web of treatments together.

The collaboration between optometrists and ophthalmologists is a cornerstone of eye health care, and our episode doesn't shy away from exploring these dynamic partnerships. Through this episode, we hammer home the critical importance of annual eye examinations, not just for those with vision correction needs but for anyone committed to preserving their sight. Embrace the power of proactive eye care and tune in for an enlightening session on keeping your vision crystal clear for life.

For more information visit: JazzyEyes.com

or contact: [phone]

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Jazzy Eyes podcast.
Taking care of your vision withexpert precision.
Here's your host, dr LauraFalco.

Jeremy (00:14):
Hello, welcome back to the Jazzy Eyes podcast.
Jeremy Wolf, here joined byyour host, Dr Laura Falco.
We were just talking aboutglaucoma.
It is national, not national.
It is glaucoma awareness monthin January.
You went over a bunch of keyinformation in the last segment.
Why don't you pick up where weleft off, Right?

Dr. Falco (00:39):
We'll talk about two little scenarios here.
One is something called ocularhypertension.
Sometimes people can have ahigher eye pressure and they
don't have any damage in theback.
We can monitor patients withvisual field tests optic
coherence tomography it's calledan OCT.
It scans the nerve fiber layer.
Make sure we're not losing anynerve fiber layer.

(01:01):
We check people's eye pressures.
Pressure can go down, up anddown during the day by three to
four millimeters.
We do typically start managingwith eye drops.
However, I do want people toknow also there's a lot of
co-management that goes on aswell, where I will send patients
out to see a glaucomaspecialist, because sometimes
the idea of taking drops for therest of their life is not

(01:23):
appealing.
The drops burn and there aresurgical co-management
techniques that can also work.
Some doctors will do a laserand that can increase the
outflow.
Some people have to put in alittle tube that basically
filters out the fluid.
Oftentimes when patients do that, they don't need to do any

(01:44):
medications anymore for the restof their life and it really
does take care of it.
I just want people to know thatit's a scary thing, but if you
go every year and you get toyour pressure check, there are
pharmacologic drops that fix it.
There are laser procedures,there are surgical procedures.
There are tons of options tomanage it so that you never lose

(02:07):
your vision to glaucoma.
That's important to know.
That's why you need to come in,because we can come in and make
sure that somebody doesn't losetheir sight.

Jeremy (02:17):
It's very important.
You don't do the surgeries forthese things.

Dr. Falco (02:21):
No, I will co-manage.
I have an arsenal ofophthalmologists that I can go
to and send patients forconsultations for certain
procedures that can either getthem off one eye drop if the
drop is not working or it'sadverse reaction, or maybe it's
not lowering the pressure enoughand they need a filtration
surgery.
There are procedures that theycan do.

(02:42):
We really do work together tomake sure the pressure is
controlled and that the patientdoesn't lose vision.

Jeremy (02:49):
Can we ever talk about glaucoma?
Did we ever do a segment oncataracts?
I can't remember.
I don't think we did yes we didwe did Okay, yeah, I know we've
done a bunch of these.
The stuff sometimes has atendency to go over my head, I
know.

Dr. Falco (03:04):
And there are a lot of cataract surgeons who, when
the patient is ready forcataract surgery, because you
can have more than one problemyou can have glaucoma and
cataracts right.
Because it's usually an agingpopulation, there's a lot of
surgeons that will do proceduresit's called a combined
procedure that they can do aprocedure to lower eye pressure
as well as replace the lensduring cataract surgery so that

(03:25):
the patient doesn't need to goon eye drops but their pressure
will remain low.
So it's called a combinedprocedure so they can do that as
well.
So sometimes it's two in one.

Jeremy (03:38):
Two for one Two for one deal Exactly.
Was there anything else youwanted to share before Dr Neuwen
got on and talked a little bitabout kind of her spin on this?

Dr. Falco (03:49):
I mean just to circle back.
This is just another reason why, even if you think your vision
is fine and you don't needvision correction, that is
completely fine as we age, youreally do need to get your eyes
examined once a year, becauseall of the things that I talk
about are pretty much easier totake care of if found early than

(04:14):
waiting All preventative.

Jeremy (04:16):
It's so funny.
I always say this every time Ido a podcast with a medical
professional and I talk aboutpreventative care, getting ahead
of this stuff early, and I'llbe the first to admit that I'm
guilty of not doing that myself.
Life happens.
It's just so important to getthis stuff on your calendar and

(04:38):
make sure you have those eyeexams scheduled in and doctor's
exams and things of that nature.
Time flies.
I find that the older I get,the quicker it gets it's like a
blur.

Dr. Falco (04:50):
It goes faster.
I know it's not fair.

Jeremy (04:54):
I want the time back.
All right, cool, so we'll wrapup there and we'll get Dr
Neuwen's spin on this, and Iknow she has a couple of other
topics related to glaucoma thatshe wanted to touch base upon.
So, dr Falco, always a pleasure.
I will look forward to seeingyou on the next episode and to

(05:15):
our listeners, as always.
Thanks for tuning in and wewill catch you all next time.
Everyone have a wonderful dayand a wonderful new year.
Take care.

Dr. Falco (05:23):
Bye.

Speaker 1 (05:26):
Thank you for listening to the Jazzy Eyes
podcast.
For more information, visitJazzyEyescom or contact
954-473-0100.