Glaucoma Associates of Texas

Glaucoma Eye Doctor, Specialty Ophthalmologists

Dallas214-360-0000 • Plano972-612-9522 • Fort Worth817-923-2000
Rockwall469-769-1606 • Sherman214-360-0000
Southlake 214-360-0000

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  • About Us
    • Michelle R. Butler, MD
    • Lauren S. Dhar, MD
    • Matthew E. Emanuel, MD
    • Ronald L. Fellman, MD
    • David G. Godfrey, MD
    • Davinder S. Grover, MD MPH
    • Helen L. Kornmann, MD, PhD
    • Oluwatosin U. Smith, MD
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    • Dallas Office
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  • Glaucoma
    • What is Glaucoma?
    • Types of Glaucoma
    • Childhood (Congenital) Glaucoma
    • Exercise and Glaucoma
    • Living with and Managing Glaucoma
    • Light Sensitivity and Glare with Glaucoma
    • Low Vision Due to Glaucoma
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    • Diagnosis and Testing
    • Nerve Fiber Analysis
    • Gonioscopy
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  • Glaucoma Treatments
    • Medical Treatment
      • Glaucoma Medications
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    • Laser Treatment
      • Types of Glaucoma Lasers
      • Micropulse Laser
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      • Diode Cyclophotocoagulation (CPC)
  • Glaucoma Surgery
    • Types of Glaucoma Surgery
    • Canaloplasty Glaucoma Surgery
    • Endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP)
    • GATT Procedure
    • Glaucoma Drainage Implant Surgery
    • Glaucoma Filtration Surgery (Trabeculectomy)
    • Hydrus® Microstent
    • iStent® Trabecular Micro-bypass
    • Trabectome® Minimally-invasive Glaucoma Surgery
  • Cataracts and Glaucoma
    • Cataract Surgery
    • Cataract Surgery and Glaucoma
  • Research

Glaucoma and Cataracts

Glaucoma and cataracts are medical conditions that cause vision loss which both can be treated by our glaucoma eye doctors at Glaucoma Associates of Texas. When glaucoma and cataracts occur simultaneously, they can present a unique set of problems for the patient that requires a doctor experienced at treating both disorders. Cataracts typically come on gradually, causing a change in the eye’s lens over time, resulting in cloudiness which reduces vision. Glaucoma encompasses a group of eye diseases characterized by a buildup of intraocular pressure (IOP) that causes damage to the optic nerve and subsequent loss of vision. While vision loss from cataracts can be reversed with surgical intervention, sight lost due to glaucoma cannot be regained.

  • Cataract Surgery and Glaucoma
  • Cataract Surgery in Glaucoma Patients

Glaucoma and Cataracts May Occur Simultaneously

Glaucoma and cataracts are not typically related, however, because both eye conditions often develop or worsen with age, there is a significant chance that a glaucoma patient may be affected by cataracts at some time, especially over the age of 50 when cataracts commonly form.Glaucoma and cataracts for surgery

Treating Cataracts in Glaucoma Patients

While cataract treatment is usually considered to be a fairly simple procedure with little risk, for glaucoma patients, the ophthalmologist must consider many factors when deciding on how best and when to perform cataract surgery to ensure that eye pressure is not affected. Increases in intraocular pressure after cataract surgery on glaucoma patients are not unusual and can often be managed with medication.

Since cataract surgery can result in changes in eye pressure (sometimes short-term and sometimes permanent), each patient with glaucoma and cataracts should be assessed on an individual basis to determine which cataract treatment option will be safest and most effective. Glaucoma Associates of Texas provides comprehensive care with the most advanced glaucoma diagnosis and testing technology available.

Some cataract treatment options for glaucoma patients include:
  • Cataract monitoring: If cataracts are not significantly interfering with a patient’s daily activities, the ophthalmologist may recommend a wait-and-see approach concerning the cataract while treating the glaucoma with laser treatment for glaucoma patients or glaucoma medications.
  • Cataract surgery: In milder cases of glaucoma that are considered stable, cataract removal can be performed while glaucoma treatment is ongoing.
  • Combined glaucoma surgery and cataract removal: For patients with more serious cases of glaucoma, cataracts may be removed in combination with a glaucoma surgery. Recent advances in glaucoma surgeries have increased the number of options glaucoma surgeons have to treat high intraocular pressure at the same time as cataract surgery. These newer techniques are often safer and may be used in mild, moderate, or severe glaucoma to achieve different goals (e.g. pressure lowering or decreased medications use).

When both cataract surgery and glaucoma surgery are needed, controlling the patient’s glaucoma is always the ophthalmologist’s priority. Due to the possible complexity involved with treating both conditions simultaneously, the ophthalmologists at Glaucoma Associates of Texas recommend using a glaucoma specialist with extensive training and experience in the comprehensive management of glaucoma.

Medicine to treat Glaucoma and Cataracts

Certain glaucoma eye drops (such as Propine and epinephrine) can dilate the pupils which subsequently allows more light exposure on the cataract. When the pupil is enlarged, glaucoma patients with a cataract may begin to experience an increase in glare.

Vision can also be affected by miotic eye drops (used for controlling IOP) when a cataract is present. These medications often shrink the pupil, lowering light entrance into the eyes, which can worsen vision already clouded by cataracts.

Compliance with glaucoma treatment and medication schedule is imperative for glaucoma patients before and after cataract surgery to control eye pressure. Your ophthalmologist will also want to closely monitor your IOP during this time to ensure successful cataract treatment and glaucoma management.

Can Glaucoma Cause Cataracts?

Glaucoma does not cause cataracts; however, some types of glaucoma surgery or treatment may accelerate cataract formation. Research suggests that tube shunt surgery or a trabeculectomy, as well as certain glaucoma medications, can exacerbate the progression of cataracts. The importance of glaucoma treatment, however, outweighs any risk of cataract development.

Less commonly, a cataract can be a contributing factor to optic nerve damage or elevated eye pressure. Cataracts can also play a role in primary-angle closure glaucoma due to additional narrowing of the drainage angle as the lens thickens from the cataract.

Benefits of Cataract Surgery for Glaucoma Patients

While extra care is required for glaucoma patients before, during, and after cataract surgery in glaucoma patients, the outcome can be an extremely positive one when performed by an experienced eye surgeon. In addition to improving vision, removal of cataracts may also result in a beneficial lowering of eye pressure. Studies suggest that patients with a higher IOP prior to cataract surgery experience the most significant drop in pressure afterward.

Some glaucoma patients are also able to lessen the amounts of glaucoma medication taken after they undergo cataract surgery, especially when combined with glaucoma surgery. The surgeons at Glaucoma Associates of Texas are at the forefront of combined cataract-glaucoma surgical technique and can discuss your options with you.  

Glaucoma and Cataracts – Possible Complications with Cataract Surgery

Some glaucoma patients have smaller pupils (which are more difficult to dilate) due to certain glaucoma treatments, and this can result in more complexity involved in the cataract surgery. In cases where glaucoma is caused by flaky deposits that clog the eye and damage the optic nerve (pseudoexfoliation syndrome), the lens can become unstable, making cataract surgery more difficult.

Other possible complications with cataract surgery in glaucoma patients include:
  • Medication problems: Use of some glaucoma medicines, such as pilocarpine, Xalaton, and Propine, can cause difficulties after cataract surgery.
  • Inflammation: Cataract surgery can cause inflammation which can necessitate glaucoma surgery or lessen the effect of glaucoma surgery.

Knowing and understanding the individual’s ocular situation is vital to successful cataract surgery in glaucoma patients and will minimize the risk of complications. The surgeons at Glaucoma Associates of Texas are highly experienced (over 60 years combined) in performing both glaucoma and cataract surgeries and understand the risks and benefits involved in performing both procedures.

Every surgeon at GAT is fellowship trained in glaucoma and cataract surgery, to provide patients the highest level of care available!

At Glaucoma Associates of Texas (GAT), we are dedicated to providing the most advanced and balanced care to preserve the sight of our glaucoma patients. If you have glaucoma and cataracts or are experiencing signs of cataract formation, please contact us by completing an appointment request form or call us at for an evaluation at: 

Dallas Office 214-360-0000
Fort Worth Office 817-923-2000
Plano Office 972-612-9522

 

Sherman Office Now Open

Glaucoma Associates of Texas (GAT) would like to welcome you to our new GAT Sherman Office located in Sherman, Texas. We are excited to announce that this is our fifth office in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Our goal is to bring glaucoma specialists closer to your area.

Our Mission

Glaucoma Associates of Texas, Dallas, Plano, Fort Worth and Rockwall

The doctors at Glaucoma Associates of Texas (GAT) are ophthalmologists specializing in the medical, laser, and surgical treatment of glaucoma and cataracts. Each of our physicians has completed a clinical glaucoma fellowship, gaining extensive … Glaucoma Specialists

Our Video Gallery

GATT (Gonioscopy Assisted Transluminal Trabeculectomy)

Welcome to the Glaucoma Photo Gallery and Video Gallery for Glaucoma Associates of Texas! Glaucoma Video Gallery In our first video, Dr. Davinder Grover is interviewed by Cheryl Guttman Krader of Ophthalmology Times. The article about GATT … Video Gallery

Our Charity – Cure Glaucoma

cure glaucoma fund

Glaucoma Associates of Texas   Cure Glaucoma, a charitable foundation, was established in 2014 by ophthalmologists at Glaucoma Associates of … Cure Glaucoma

Archives

Latest GAT News

What’s the Right Surgery for You?

December 10, 2017 By Matthew Emanuel, MD

Click Here to watch Dr. Davinder Grover discuss how glaucoma-trained … [Read More...]

Make the Most of Your Visit

December 2, 2017 By Matthew Emanuel, MD

Click Here to see Dr. Tosin Smith's recent interview on 7 Ways to Make the … [Read More...]

Living With Glaucoma

  • Living with and Managing Glaucoma
  • Low Vision Due to Glaucoma
  • Light Sensitivity and Glare with Glaucoma
  • Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Glaucoma
  • Exercise and Glaucoma
  • Cure Glaucoma Charity

GAT Dallas Office

GAT Plano Office

GAT Fort Worth Office

GAT Rockwall Office

GAT Sherman Office

GAT Southlake Office

5 Office Locations

Dallas Office 214-360-0000
10740 N Central Expressway, Suite 300
Dallas, Texas 75231

Plano Office 972-612-9522
6000 W.Spring Creek Pkwy, Suite 110
Plano, TX 75024

Fort Worth Office 817-923-2000
417 W Magnolia Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76104

Rockwall Office 469-769-1606
810 Rockwall Pkwy, #1010
Rockwall, Texas 75032

Sherman Office 214-360-0000
715 E. Taylor Street
Taylor Plaza, Suite 100
Sherman, TX 75090

Southlake Office 214-360-0000
305 Morrison Park Drive
Southlake, Texas 76092

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