Glaucoma Treatment in Murrysville

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

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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. Your Family Eye Doctors - Murrysville offers several treatments to help address glaucoma. Learn more about the treatments we provide and contact us to schedule an appointment.

Close up of glasses and a bottle of eye drops on a piece of paper with the word Glaucoma

A happy old man is holding a young girl in his arms and looking at her in a garden area with trees and plants in the background.

The 2 Main Types of Glaucoma

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 Your Family Eye Doctors - Murrysville, 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.

Man in a white lab coat using an eye examination machine

Diagram showing a normal eye compared to two types of glaucoma, illustrating the blockage of drainage canals in glaucoma

What are the Signs of Glaucoma?

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 Your Family Eye Doctors - Murrysville in Murrysville 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?

What foods should you avoid if you have glaucoma?

What percentage of glaucoma patients go blind?

Patient Reviews

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Joe P. - May 8, 2026

I have been a patient of this office for a few years now. I wear both glasses and contacts. I feel c... Show Moreonflicted however because I like smaller/more private eye clinics like this vs. major retailers. That being said, I struggle with the pricing. First, let me say that everyone at the office is extremely nice and friendly. The doctor(s) are extremely nice, helpful, and explain things well. Yesterday I went with the intention of altering the type of contacts I wear as I had been wearing Precision 1 (Dailies) for astigmatism,but they simply cost too much. So I wanted to go back to either 2 week disposable or (preferably) monthly disposable. I brought my 3 pairs of Oakley eyeglasses which are all in good shape, I asked to be fitted for monthly contacts as they are one of the cheapest and was told that 2 week disposables would be the best for my situation. I had no problem with the suggestion and we went with Acuvue Oasysis w/hydroglyde. The Dr. also checked my most current pair of Oakley glasses and made an adjustment to the lenses, which, while in the chair, definitely seemed to make a difference. Now comes the confusing part. I hate vision benefits as they don't seem to cover enough for what the price of quality eye products cost---but that certainly isn't the office'e fault. My benefits allow EITHER frames and contacts or lenses and frames per year. But, I wanted to see how much it would be to put the updated prescription of lenses into my most current Oakley frames and use my benefits towards the disposable contacts. My allowance is $130 for disposable contacts. Single vision lenses are paid in full and based on the additives selected (scratch-resistance, polycarbonate, etc, have copays). I was told I would get the best use of my insurance on the lenses and pay out of pocket for my contacts. I was prepared to hear a total between $400-$500 for everything since I was buying 6 months of contacts and was told my Oakleys needed a "thinner" type of lense. The contacts, and whatever I had to pay for the contact lense fitting and evaluation, plus that eye-scanning test that's around $44, was $383.47. Then I heard the total to put the new lenses in my glasses and it would have been somewhere around $240!! I was not prepared to pay roughly $624 so I asked that we simply hold off on the lenses, and use the benefits for my contacts. So I paid $383.47 for contacts with plans to come back in a few weeks to have my lenses put into my glasses. My girlfriend was with me and we were talking and the amount I paid just seemed high. Plus, I didn't receive any type of itemized statement for the services provided, their cost, and what the insurance was to pay. I decided to go to Visionworks in South Hills Village Mall on the way home. I walked into Visionworks, pulled up my current prescription, and told them I simply wanted to see what the cost would be to have the lenses put into the frames. The lady called EyeMed and was told I would be responsible for a $40 copay for polycarbonate, that's it!!! (I didn't think I could get lenses since I just got contacts) but I wasn't going to argue. So, rather than $240 (roughly) for 1 pair of lenses that I was quoted, Visionworks charged me $40 for new lenses put into the same frames. AND, since they were having a buy 1, get 1 50% off, she took my back-up Oakley glasses and I'm getting the new prescription lenses put into THOSE frames also. I walked out of VisionWorks paying $155 for 2 sets of new lenses with polycarbonate and scratch coating rather than paying $240 for 1 set of lenses!!! This makes me wonder if I was way overcharged for my contacts? Today, I asked to have an itemized statement sent to me from Your family Eye Doctors to see the cost per box and with the insurance paying for $130 worth. Again, I have no problem with Your Family Eye Doctors. They are professional, clean, thorough, and have a large selection. My only feeling is that it's a bit pricey as I would have paid about $624 and paid $538 between the two providers (and I'm receiving an extra pair of lenses).

Nonno 3. - Mar 28, 2026

I went to Family Eye Doctors to see if they could repair my badly mangled glasses. I was very pessi... Show More

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