Maryland Vision Institute is a leader in Glaucoma management and care for patients in the tri-state area. Drs. Gus Stern and Sidney Chang have both completed specialized fellowships focusing on proper glaucoma diagnosis, management, and treatment. In fact, they are the only dual fellowship-trained M.D. glaucoma specialists in the area which includes Hagerstown, Chambersburg, Frederick, and Cumberland.
Additionally, Dr. Chang is one of the first physicians in the Hagerstown area to offer iDose® TR to patients, while Dr. Azam Husain is one of the first in the Frederick area. This advanced, minimally invasive interventional Glaucoma treatment offers patients a new level of care by reducing dependence on lifelong medications and delaying the need for more invasive surgeries.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of adult blindness, and it is also the leading cause of preventable blindness. Glaucoma results from characteristic deterioration of the optic nerve leading to progressive loss of the field of vision. There are many different causes and risk factors for glaucoma including an individual’s age, genetics, ethnicity, trauma, and inflammation.
Though there is no cure for glaucoma, most of the vision loss from glaucoma is preventable with timely diagnosis and treatment. You are born with approximately 1.2 million nerve fibers that comprise one optic nerve. Unfortunately, once you lose nerve fibers from glaucoma, they are gone forever! The rate of this nerve fiber loss can be substantially reduced or stabilized with proper diagnosis and treatment.
There is only one proven therapy to decrease the rate of glaucoma damage — intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction. The value of IOP lowering has been confirmed by many large-scale randomized clinical trials. There are several methods to accomplish this goal:
Oftentimes, one or more of these treatment options must be used to control IOP adequately and thus lower the chances of losing your vision to glaucoma. Typically, we start with a more conservative method of IOP control (e.g. eye drops or laser), and if this method is not effective, we progress to more invasive (but more effective) modalities like MIGS or traditional incisional glaucoma surgery.
Drs. Gus Stern and Sidney Chang have both completed specialized fellowships focusing on proper glaucoma diagnosis, management, and treatment. In fact, they are the only dual fellowship-trained M.D. glaucoma specialists in the area which includes Hagerstown, Chambersburg, Frederick, and Cumberland.
Because of their advanced training, they are both well-versed on the full spectrum of glaucoma procedures including: laser iridotomy, laser iridoplasty, goniosynechiolysis, iStent®, endocyclophotocoagulation, micropulse diode cyclophotocoagulation, traditional trabeculectomy, Ex-PRESS® mini-shunt, Kahook goniotomy, and Ahmed and Baerveldt glaucoma drainage devices (tubes). In addition, they are both well-trained in managing complications from previous glaucoma procedures (e.g. bleb resurrection techniques, bleb revisions for leaking blebs, tube explantations, choroidal drainage, etc).
Maryland Vision Institute continues to expand its glaucoma services with a focus on advanced, interventional treatment options designed to help lower eye pressure while reducing the burden of daily medications when appropriate. These options include minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), laser treatments and sustained-release therapies such as iDose® TR.
Dr. Husain also provides comprehensive glaucoma management and advanced treatment options for patients in the Frederick area. Dr. Chang is one of the first physicians in the Hagerstown area to offer iDose® TR, while Dr. Husain is one of the first in the Frederick area, further expanding access to this innovative treatment across Maryland Vision Institute.
We are pleased to announce that Maryland Vision Institute is now offering iDose® TR (travoprost intraocular implant) 75 mcg as a new treatment option for patients with ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. iDose TR is a new, FDA approved treatment that is designed to provide long duration, continuous drug therapy directly inside the eye, helping patients take better control over the elevated eye pressure associated with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
iDose TR may be particularly beneficial for patients who have difficulty adhering to a daily medication regimen or whose condition is uncontrolled on topical glaucoma medications. iDose TR is currently only covered by Medicare.
We are pleased to offer Durysta® (bimatoprost intracameral implant) as a treatment option for certain patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Durysta is an FDA-approved biodegradable implant that is placed during a quick outpatient procedure performed in the office. The implant delivers medication directly inside the eye to help lower eye pressure while reducing or eliminating the need for daily eye drops for a period of time. Your doctor will determine whether Durysta is an appropriate option based on your individual needs.
An eye exam is the first step in detecting Glaucoma. Make your appointment today by calling 301-791-0888 or click here to schedule an appointment.
