Glaucoma Treatment in Pittsburgh

Glaucoma Treatment in Pittsburgh

Don’t Let Glaucoma Rob You of Your Sight

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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. Bittel Vision Care Center - Caste Village offers several treatments to help address glaucoma. Learn more about the treatments we provide and contact us to schedule an appointment.

Glaucoma diagnosis


The 2 Main Types of Glaucoma

grandfather wearing glasses holding his granddaughter

  • 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.

Preserve Your Vision For Longer

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 Bittel Vision Care Center - Caste Village, 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.

optometrist in Pittsburgh


What are the Signs of Glaucoma?

glaucoma signs

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 Bittel Vision Care Center - Caste Village in Pittsburgh 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.


Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment in Pittsburgh

Our optometry practice in Pittsburgh

Photograph of Robert Bittel
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 7:30 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife
  • Aetna

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
Patient Reviews
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105 Reviews
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- Oct. 29, 2023
The staff was friendly and the doctor was very thorough!
- Oct. 10, 2023
Very good experience. A wide variety to choose from for frames and I am hard to fit
- Aug. 27, 2023
My family has been going to Dr. Bittel for years. He does an excellent job and his staff is professi... onal. Strongly recommend.
- Aug. 06, 2023
Friendly staff. No long waits.
- May. 25, 2023
Professional, thorough and friendly.
- May. 25, 2023
Excellent care from Dr. Robert Bittel and his staff.
- May. 03, 2023
I've been going to Drs Bittel for over a decade, and I couldn't imagine going anywhere else! The st... aff is always extremely friendly and professional, and they have a wide selection of eyewear to choose from. Super excited to go pick up my new glasses today!!!
- Apr. 17, 2023
Great people giving great services and products
- Mar. 11, 2023
We always have a positive experience. The staff is friendly and helpful.
- Feb. 27, 2023
Excellent service and very professional doctor, my 7 years old son was so comfortable during his app... ointment. Very recommended!
- Feb. 25, 2023
Dr Bittel was so kind and professional towards my 90 year old father. Thoroughly examined his eyes a... nd spoke kindly to him.
- Feb. 10, 2023
Dr Bittle diagnosed me with wet macula degeneration and made an appointment for me at Retina Vision ... Services for the next day for treatment.He is responsible for preserving my vision in my left eye and I readily recommend him to everyone .j
- Dec. 27, 2022
I've been going here for many years and I have always been treated very nicely.The staff is very pro... fessional and Doctor Bittel is awesome!
- Dec. 17, 2022
Was at Bittel yesterday for a glasses adjustment. The off-putting slant of my glasses was driving m... e nuts. Carol immediately knew what was wrong and adjusted the glasses so they are perfect now. Thanks Carol for your care and professionalism!
- Oct. 01, 2022
My 90 year old Mother is a patient. There was a problem when she went to pick up her new glasses and... they weren't correct. She was very upset, stuff like that tends to extremely overwhelm her now that she is older. Jen was awesome, put her at ease, solved the problem and got them correctly reordered. She was kind and compassionate and cool which meant a lot to my mother. She couldn't say enough about Jen and how nicely she was treated. Thank you!
- Jul. 14, 2022
I have been a patient of Dr. Bittel’s for many years. I highly recommend him because he is so know... ledgeable, professional and caring. My appointment went so smooth as I had a couple issues, he always takes his time and is so thorough. The staff is awesome too!!!
- Feb. 03, 2022
Great service, excellent staff, and doctors that care about their patients.
- Nov. 11, 2021
Nothing but possitve visits at Bittel Vision Care Center! The Doctor's and staff are so friendly and... professional. Love the assistance I receive when choosing eyeglasses! Top notch all the way!
- Nov. 09, 2021
I have major eye issues including Thyroid Eye Disease. The doctors and nurses are amazing. They ar... e patient and caring. They did not rush me through trying on several brands of contacts to find just the right ones. Highly recommend Bittel Optical!
- Sep. 06, 2021
Dr Bob and Dr Matt are always punctual, professional and compassionate.

View All 105 Reviews

Glaucoma Testing Treatment FAQs

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.
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.
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.


glaucoma surgery

Don’t lose sight of your future.

With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can be controlled.

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