Care for Glaucoma at University of Colorado Hospital

Why Choose Treatment for Glaucoma at University of Colorado Hospital?

  • The UCH and University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology has been ranked in the Top 10 Best Clinical (Patient Care) Programs in a recent Ophthalmology Times Survey.
  • University of Colorado Hospital has an entire eye center dedicated to serve the vision care needs of our patients and to advance research.  The Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute is a state-of-the art facility dedicated to providing both routine and specialty diagnostic and clinical care.
  • All of our doctors are fellowship trained which means they have achieved the highest level of expertise. They are able to diagnose and treat the most complicated cases.
  • Our doctors also conduct research.  Not only does this mean our doctors are deeply knowledgeable in their area, but it makes it possible for us to offer the latest treatments and surgical options to our patients sooner than other eye doctors.
  • Our doctors train the next generation of eye doctors.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can occur at any age and slowly steal vision and lead to blindness.  It often occurs when eye pressure of fluid in the eye is abnormally high and causes damage to the optic nerve. However, people with normal eye pressure may also get glaucoma. Alternatively, increased eye pressure does not mean you will absolutely develop glaucoma. There are often no symptoms at first - vision is normal and there is no pain. But as the disease progresses, vision may gradually decrease narrow and fail.

More than three million people in the United States have glaucoma. It is one of the leading causes of blindness with a high incidence in African American and Hispanic patients.

Tests for Glaucoma

Routine eye exams that include tests such as “Goldmann Tonometry” that checks for high eye pressure.

Our service has state-of-the-art imaging machines that help identify glaucomatous changes in the back of the eye and guide treatment:

  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
  • Heidelberg Retinal Tomography (HRT )
  • GDx

We also have instruments that look at the front of the eye such as high-resolution ultrasound and laser guided imaging such as the Visante anterior segment OCT.

People at increased risk for glaucoma should be screened at least every two years. People at higher risk include:

  • African Americans over the age of 40
  • Anyone over the age of 60
  • People with a family history of glaucoma

Treatment for Glaucoma

Early treatment can help prevent vision loss. Treatments include:

Prescription eyedrops or medicine

Conventional surgery – the doctor makes a new opening for the fluid to leave the eye. This may mean implanting a tube that directs the fluid away from the front of the eye. Both Drs. Kahook and Mackenzie are experienced with this type of surgery and are actively involved in creating newer safer and more effective techniques. Success is achieved 60 – 80% of the time. Complications are possible and repeat operations may be necessary.

Laser trabeculoplasty – the doctor uses lasers to help the eye drain fluid more effectively.  The lasers used are:

  • Argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT)
  • Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT)

Laser surgery – Two laser techniques can be used for decreasing eye pressure.

  • Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation (ECP)
  • Trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation (TCP)

Additional Resources

National Institutes of Health

American Glaucoma Society