Glaucoma Treatment in Waite Park

Glaucoma Treatment in Waite Park

Don’t Let Glaucoma Rob You of Your Sight

(320) 253-0365

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. Insight EyeCare - Waite Park 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.

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 Insight EyeCare - Waite Park, 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 Waite Park


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 Insight EyeCare - Waite Park in Waite Park 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?

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.

Patient Reviews
4.7
436 Reviews
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- Sep. 25, 2024
Dr. Malikowski is such a Great Eye Dr.!! She cares about her patients!! She will actually call you a... t your Home Herself!!! πŸ˜ŠπŸ‘€πŸ˜ŠπŸ˜Š
- Sep. 14, 2024
Dr. Russell is amazing, after many years of having trouble with my eye, all she had to do was look a... t me & knowing by the way I tilt my head that I needed prisms added to my lenses!
- Jun. 10, 2024
Very friendly from reception to the time spent with Dr Bennett Nelson. Very quick service and also ... with my contact order.
- Jun. 01, 2024
Professional, comprehensive, patient oriented! Awesome!
- Apr. 13, 2024
Great experience
- Jan. 06, 2024
Simply the best!
- Dec. 25, 2023
Great service - excellent attention to detail.
- Dec. 09, 2023
The staff and the doctor were friendly and professional. They did a great job.
- Nov. 10, 2023
great Dr and great knowledgeable tech which explained what does what. Good experience. I give you bo... th 4 stars or 10 if there were 10 to pick so you only get 5.
- Nov. 09, 2023
Had an eye problem crop up, decided I needed it looked at and was able to get an appt for the next d... ay. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Doctor was able to diagnose my problem and prescribed what was needed for treatment. Also was impressed when the doctor called me on her day off to see how I was doing.
- Oct. 18, 2023
Always so kind and responsive.
- Sep. 01, 2023
Love this place! I've had terrible experiences at other place but here everyone was friendly and und... erstanding. they really care about you and your needs along with getting you the right glasses/contacts that you need.
- Aug. 07, 2023
1 of the best eye clinics in area,super helpful,very professional and always a great experience keep... up the great work, 4-5 stars!!!!
- Jul. 23, 2023
Very professional and helpful staff.
- Jun. 27, 2023
My experience with the staff is always very pleasant. Great group of people working there. Always ... helpful and friendly.
- May. 18, 2023
Kind and courteous staff and thorough exams.
- May. 11, 2023
This was my first introduction to Dr. Anna Malkowski which was terrific. Never felt more comfortable... and informed in reference to my testing , results and recommendations for continued eye health. Thank you, Chaz Demm
- Mar. 13, 2023
I highly recommend Dr. Parity and technician Tom! My experience has always been great and I never fe... el rushed. They have worked so hard to find the right contacts that work for me. This is a great office!
- Mar. 09, 2023
Always an excellent experience in eye care. I’ve been with this eye care group for yearsβ€” each p... rofessional is highly skilled and a great listener of my concerns.
- Feb. 02, 2023
I do not usually leave reviews but the people I mention here deserve recognition. My profession & b... usiness is as a Long Haul Truck Driver & my eye sight is extremely important. The Insight staff I came in contact with were all very friendly, knowledgeable, & helpful. When I arrived I was greeted with a smile & professionalism by Pam. She was extremely helpful with the check in process & making sure I knew what my insurance coverage took care of. She then got me set up with Mark, the eye technician. Mark was extremely helpful, he explained each procedure & helped me understand them. He also helped me by explaining what procedures would be not only helpful with my eye exam that day but also which ones would be good for future appointments as a reference to the direction of my eye health. Dr. Paradis is 100% fantastic, he was straight up with me & did not sugarcoat things. I personally think all doctors should be this way. When doing the part of the exam, lens flips as I call it, where they are asking which is clearer he did not rush me & didn't make me feel like it was a problem to let me see them again before deciding. He did not act like a salesman when it came to his recommendations for glasses, he put it out there straight forward. Then Sarah helped me with choosing glasses & what type of lenses to get, she actually listened when I explained what I do for a living. She was very knowledgeable which was a huge relief for me. She brought me what she thought would suit me & indulged my needing to try a few that did not suit my face at all. She then explained the difference in the lenses & what they would do for my eye sight. She did not rush me in making my decision. When I asked both Sarah & Pam their opinions on if the frames looked good on me or not, I very much appreciated their honesty. I would like to thank all of them for making my appointment at Insight Eye Care a delightful experience.

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Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment in Waite Park

Our optometry practice in Waite Park

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Hours
  • Monday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
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  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Spectera
  • Superior Vision
  • Davis Vision
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

glaucoma surgery

Don’t lose sight of your future.

With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can be controlled.

(320) 253-0365