Glaucoma Treatment in Southborough

Glaucoma Treatment in Southborough

Don’t Let Glaucoma Rob You of Your Sight

(508) 481-8558

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. Vision Care Specialists 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 Vision Care Specialists, 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 Southborough


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 Vision Care Specialists in Southborough 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
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- Dec. 04, 2024
I have post-concussion vision syndrome and Vision Therapy with Dr. Abbondanza and his team, literall... y saved my life! His research, knowledge and understanding of the human eye is above and beyond that of any doctor I've ever met. This therapy is a game changer!
- Jun. 03, 2024
I have been going to the eye doctor for 23 years and I don't believe that I've had a better experien... ce with an eye doctor! Dr. White was thorough, not pushy, and personable. I have bounced around eye doctors for a long time, but will see Dr. White consistently going forward and will have my family see him as well. The front office was also friendly and everything was smooth and easy.
- Nov. 10, 2023
After noticing I was having double vision, I went to see Dr. Abbondanza hoping to get some help. I�... �m forever grateful for Dr. Abbondanza and his team for creating a vision therapy plan for me and teaching me the tools to improve my vision. As with other therapies, vision therapy requires hard work from the patient but having Lynne and Niki as my therapists helped me stay accountable. They encouraged me and were genuinely happy about my weekly progress. Thank you all for what you do, it truly makes a difference.
- Aug. 26, 2023
I am visiting from overseas and ended up with a pretty bad eye infection. Luckily I was able to get ... an appointment with Dr. John Abbondanza right away at the Vision Care Specialists. Everyone there was so friendly and helpful and with the very professional help I received from Dr. John and his assistants, my infection got better very quickly so I could still enjoy my vacation. Thank you very much!! If you are looking for someone who really looks after you, I can really highly recommend the Vision Care Specialists!!
- Aug. 21, 2023
Dr Abbondanza and his team are truly the best. Everyone is extremely hospitable and treats you with ... the most amount of care. They are very diligent with the examinations and follow up. I would recommend VCS to anyone looking for an optometrist office!!
- Jul. 25, 2023
Professional, excellent, compassionate care. Staff are efficient and courteous. Dr. A. was thorough,... took the time to explain what he was doing and what he observed, and made sure any questions I had were answered fully. Highly recommend!
- Jul. 11, 2023
The best most professional Eye Dr services ...
- Oct. 14, 2022
An excellent experience. My daughter was the patient, new to the practice. Everyone was professiona... l and friendly. Her eye exam was quite thorough & Dr. John gave us a complete rundown of his findings and suggestions on how to remediate her visual processing issues. His approach was both detailed and thoughtful and he took time to answer our questions. Recommend this practice highly.
- Feb. 01, 2022
My family and I have been going to this practice for over 15 years and the staff are all incredible.... They are all very friendly and go above and beyond what you would typically expect when visiting the Optometrist. Getting your eyes checked with them is truly an enjoyable experience. When I was younger I saw Dr. Abbondanza for Vision Therapy because I had trouble reading and it made a world of difference for me. For the past several years I have been seeing Dr. Levine for orthokeratology which provides perfect vision for 24 hours a day, without the discomfort that can sometimes accompany daytime lenses. Recently I had an ophthalmological emergency late at night during a blizzard. Dr. Abbondanza worked with me on the phone for several hours while we struggled to find a pharmacy that was open and accessible during the storm. The next day, a Sunday, Dr. Levine met me at his otherwise closed offices in order to examine my eye, and give me more information regarding the issue and treatment. It is rare to find doctors who care so much for their patients and go to such extreme lengths to help them. Even in the event that I moved across the country I could see myself flying home any time I needed to see the eye doctors at VCS.
- Jan. 07, 2022
Dr Levine and Dr Abbondanza are both fantastic. Dr Levine has treated me for years. I have some comp... lex eye issues and have received expert care. He dramatically improved my vision. I have had a few urgent eye concerns, and I was seen promptly. He diagnosed 2 issues that had gone unnoticed by more than 1 neurologist. One thing he picked up may have saved my life. I mean that truly, and as a physician not just a happy patient. Optometry students do rotations and when I asked if it was “just me or does Dr. Levine have more than the usual amount of fancy high tech machines” and one student told me that yes, he does. He said students are eager to come here. I think it’s really cool to see an image of the inside of your eye. As is true for all good doctors/dentists/optomotrists, a new patient appt might take awhile to book as he has lots of repeat patients. It is worth the wait. His office is well run. He has had almost no staff turnover that I have seen. The opticians are top notch - best I have worked with ever. Pricing for glasses is transparent. There are never “secret” or unexpected charges at the time of pick up. The office manager/secretaries are wonderful and the office is very well run. COVID-precaution wise his office procedures are excellent.
- Oct. 20, 2021
Everyone at this office is so kind and helpful! All of my concerns were addressed by Dr. Abbondanza,... and the opticians and receptionists were amazing as well!! Highly recommend this practice!
- Jun. 08, 2021
The explanations of the exam were superb! Taking the time to talk and explain made this the best eye... exam. High points for the carefulness and concern shown
- Jun. 03, 2021
My experience with Dr. John was absolutely delightful! Who knew you could actually enjoy going to th... e eye doctor? His exam of my eyes was the most thorough and comprehensive I have ever received. In addition, he was genuinely kind and explained everything he was doing and seeing in great detail. I recommend this practice without hesitation!
- May. 21, 2021
The best authentic and genuinely pleasant people to be around. Made going to the eye doctor a pleasu... re that I can say I enjoyed and will look forward to and recommend. The doctor was very clear, fun, intelligent, thorough, and skilled at communicating and staying organized. My health was assessed thoroughly and everything was explained very well. The good mood and positive energy is contagious.
- May. 17, 2021
Very Happy with Dr. John and Staff. Exam was very thorough. I did not feel rushed and Dr. John an... swered all my questions and concerns I am so happy to be with Vision Care. Thank you for your excellent service.
- May. 03, 2021
I didn't see an optometrist there. I just went to get a new pair of glasses. The opticians were very... polite and professional and take Covid-19 precautions very seriously.
- Apr. 12, 2021
Dr Levine is truly helping to save my daughter's vision! She started with glasses in preschool and n... ow 4 years later has the vision of someone 4x her age. We are using eye drops at night and a check up every few months to monitor the changes and Dr Levine is right on top of things. Anytime I have a question he takes the time to answer and explain everything to me. I would highly recommend Vision Care Specialists!!
- Oct. 30, 2020
This was my first ever eye exam and glasses buying experience and I must give the folks at Vision Ca... re Specialist a AAA+++ rating. Dr. Levine and the staff I interacted with were all great. They made me feel very comfortable and answered all my questions without hesitation. After the exam, they worked with me to find just the right frames. Even ordering a pair in an alternative color for me to try on, only for me to pick yet another pair that caught my eye when I went back to see them. I can't wait to pick them up. They do take their Covid precautions seriously, but everything is well thought out and I again felt very safe and comfortable during both visits. I would most definitely recommend them to family and friends and you.
- Oct. 27, 2020
My daughter was referred to Dr. Abbondanza after my sister-in-law (also an optometrist) had noticed... she was having some tracking issues. She was evaluated and a very thorough and comprehensive vision therapy plan was put in place. The team and Vision Care Specialist was amazing and everyone there was supportive and encouraging. During the tail end of her treatment, we were all put into lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. VCS communicated their plan throughout the entire time. Not wanting her to miss her last few session (she was SO close to finishing) they organized online sessions with Dr. Abbondanza so my daughter would stay on track. Her follow up evaluation went great and I have seen a noticeable improvement in her reading skills and comprehension as well as her self confidence! She was a good student to begin with, but as the material gets more difficult and dense I feel she now has to tools to keep up with her studies. Thanks to Dr. Abbondanza and his team at VCS!
- Sep. 23, 2020
This place is amazing. I have been going to see Dr Abbondanza for 10+ years. He is really passiona... te about what he does and is excellent at his job--always gets complicated issues right on the first try. I moved over an hour away and I still came back to see him. During Covid, his team has gone out of their way to help me. I needed new glasses but because of underlying health conditions, I couldn't come into the building to pick out new frames. Working with Kristin in the optical dept, she was open to figuring out how to get me a new pair, which included coming out to my car to get an ancient pair of glasses out of my trunk, taking them back to the office to do measurements, and bringing them down again. She researched to get me an almost exact same frame and had them sent to me. Amazing. These are trying times and I can't thank them enough for helping me out of a tough spot. I am forever in their debt. You won't go wrong by using them. They are good, good people.

View All 54 Reviews

Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment in Southborough

Our optometry practice in Southborough

Photograph of John  Abbondanza
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
  • Dec. 24 Closed
  • Dec. 25 Closed
  • Jan. 01 Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • EyeMed
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
  • Unicare

glaucoma surgery

Don’t lose sight of your future.

With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can be controlled.

(508) 481-8558