Tests & Treatment for Glaucoma at University
of Colorado Hospital

Ophthalmologists at University of Colorado Hospital provide the highest level of expertise in diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, including glaucoma.

In a recent Ophthalmology Times survey, UCH and the Ophthalmology Department at the University of Colorado School of Medicine were ranked in the Top 10 Best Clinical (Patient Care) programs.

Tests for Glaucoma

Those who are at increased risk for
glaucoma should be screened at least
every two years.

To determine if you have glaucoma, your eye doctor will perform eye exams that include tests such as “Goldmann Tonometry” that indicates elevated pressure within the eye.

The Ophthalmology practice at UCH 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

Our ophthalmologists also use 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.

Some at higher risk

People at increased risk for glaucoma should be screened at least every two years. Those 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 is important to prevent vision loss. Treatments include:

Prescription eyedrops or medicine. Some eyedrops can be effective in maintaining normal eye pressure.

Conventional surgery. Your ophthalmologist makes a new opening for the fluid to leave the eye, which relieves pressure. This may mean implanting a tube that directs the fluid away from the front of the eye.

Here at University of Colorado Hospital, Dr. Malik Kahook and Dr. Douglas MacKenzie have extensive experience 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. Note that complications are possible and repeat operations may be necessary.

Laser trabeculoplasty. In this procedure, your eye 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)

Featured Eye Doctors for Treatment of Glaucoma

 

 

Malik Kahook, MD, is director of clinical research at Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute at University of Colorado Hospital. He specializes in the medical and surgical care of glaucoma and cataracts. Dr. Kahook completed his residency training at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine and his fellowship in glaucoma at the University of Pittsburg Medical Center. He currently serves as assistant professor of ophthalmology at University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.
 

Douglas MacKenzie, MD, is a specialist in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma. He received his medical degree from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine and completed his internship and opththalmology residency at the University of Missouri, Columbia. He completed his fellowship training in glaucoma at the Cole Eye Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. He is an assistant professor in the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine's Department of Ophthalmology.