At Swagel Wootton Eye Institute, we offer a full-spectrum approach to glaucoma diagnosis, management, and treatment. Here’s what you need to know:
Glaucoma is caused by damage to the optic nerve, often due to pressure building up inside the eye when fluid can’t drain properly. Over time, high pressure can damage the nerve and lead to vision loss. Most forms of glaucoma have no early symptoms, which is why regular monitoring and treatment are so important.
While glaucoma is not curable, with the right treatment and regular follow-up, patients with glaucoma can continue to live active, independent lives.
We tailor your care based on your type of glaucoma, lifestyle, and overall eye health. Our goal is to reduce eye pressure, slow disease progression, and preserve vision, with minimal disruption to your life. This is typically best done through MIGS procedures (Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery).
MIGS can reduce or even eliminate your need for daily eye drops and can often be done with or without cataract surgery. If you’ve been labeled a “glaucoma suspect” or are managing early-stage disease, this minimally invasive option may still be the right choice for you.
Glaucoma surgical invention procedures and MIGS procedures are considered safe, effective, and minimally invasive. These procedures involve tiny, precise incisions and are performed quickly, often in under 15 minutes with short recovery time. For many patients, MIGS procedure offer a way to lower eye pressure without the burden of daily medications and with less risk and downtime than expected.
Swagel Wootton Eye Institute was founded in 1962 by Dr. James Wootton, with Dr. Lorin Swagel later joining to form Swagel Wootton Eye Institute. For 60 years, Swagel Wootton Eye Institute has been caring for the vision health needs of the East Valley with the mission of improving lives through better vision and outstanding patient experiences. Our board-certified eye doctors are committed to delivering the highest-quality eyecare in the East Valley and have improved the lives of thousands of patients through customized vision correction procedures.
During a glaucoma evaluation appointment at Swagel Wootton, our team will dilate your eyes and lead you through a series of advanced diagnostic tests including an eye pressure test (called a tonometry test) and visual field. Your doctor will examine your optic nerve and will talk with you about what the findings of the tests might mean. It’s a chance to get answers, ask questions, and understand your options for protecting your vision.
This evaluation helps us build a personalized plan to protect your vision.
Treatment options range from daily eye drops and laser therapy to advanced surgical procedures like MIGS. The range of treatment options are all designed to lower eye pressure and preserve your vision.
For many patients, an specialized eye drop regimen is typically the first step in glaucoma management. If drops are no longer enough to control your pressure or if side effects or lifestyle burden become too great, your doctor may recommend MIGS or another procedure. We offer expert consultation to help determine when that time is right.
