Published in Glaucoma

The Optometrist's Guide to Glaucoma Management

This is editorially independent content
3 min read

Optometrists can be considered the first line of defense against glaucoma. This downloadable eBook covers the diagnosis, grading, and management of glaucoma through case reports and clinical pearls from leading glaucoma-focused optometrists.

The Optometrist's Guide to Glaucoma Management
By 2040, open-angle glaucoma is expected to affect more than 111 million patients per year worldwide—a number that may, in fact, be an underestimate due to the known underdiagnosis of the disease.1 In the United States, attrition rates in the ranks of ophthalmology mean that optometrists will need to continue stepping up to provide care for these glaucoma patients.
With this in mind, we have compiled The Optometrist's Guide to Glaucoma Management, an eBook containing the latest research insights, clinical pearls, and real-world commentary from leading glaucoma-focused optometrists.
You’ll find information on how to manage glaucoma and ocular hypertension patients, case reports on the principles of disease detection and grading, treatment options, guidance about surgical intervention, and co-management best practices.

Download the eBook!

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The Optometrist's Guide to Glaucoma Management

With case reports and clinical pearls, this eBook was designed and written to inform optometrists on updates in the diagnosis, grading, and management of glaucoma.

You’ll get 35+ images, 20+ pages, 4 case reports, and more:

  • A refresher on glaucoma pathogenesis
  • Importance of setting an appropriate target intraocular pressure (IOP)
  • Diagnosing and detecting glaucoma
  • Determining glaucoma severity
  • Cost barrier and coverage conversations
  • Glaucoma and ocular surface disease
  • Co-managing glaucoma patients with ophthalmology
  • Managing a complex glaucoma case
  • Tips, tricks, and clinical pearls

Breaking down the Optometrist’s Guide to Glaucoma Management

The eBook begins with an overview of the pathogenesis of glaucoma, including the role of nitric oxide and its impact on IOP. While glaucoma’s etiology is multifactorial and not fully understood, the most effective treatment options focus on lowering IOP, traditionally determined by the ratio of aqueous humor production to aqueous outflow.
Jessica Steen, OD, FAAO, Diplo ABO, will walk us through disease diagnostics and detection, spotlighting the role of patient history and baseline measurements in crafting individualized target pressure ranges and treatment plans.
Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO, covers the current best practices for glaucoma staging established by the American Glaucoma Society, including mild, moderate, and severe-stage glaucoma. Dr. Chaglasian further explores new research on the growing place of OCT in glaucoma staging and the increase in accuracy that may come with a new staging system in the near future.
In the case reports, Justin Schweitzer, OD, FAAO, explores a challenging case where moderate glaucoma meets ocular surface disease and the balance that must be struck when choosing an effective—but non-damaging—treatment option.
Katherine Rachon, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, describes a memorable co-managed case of moderate open-angle glaucoma OD and severe open-angle glaucoma OS and the success she and the co-managing ophthalmologist found through quick action and clear communication. Additionally, Dr. Rachon offers some helpful tips to foster collaborative relationships.
Finally, Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO, presents a thoroughly illustrated case of neovascular glaucoma, walking us through the disease progression with imaging taken over the course of nearly a year.

Download the eBook for glaucoma case reports, clinical pearls, and more!

  1. Allison K, Patel D, Alabi O. Epidemiology of Glaucoma: The Past, Present, and Predictions for the Future. Cureus. 2020;12(11):e11686. Published November 24, 2020. doi:10.7759/cureus.11686.
Jessica Steen, OD, FAAO
About Jessica Steen, OD, FAAO

Dr. Jessica Steen is an Assistant Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry where she serves as Director of the Glaucoma Service and as an attending optometric physician at the College’s Eye Care Institute. Dr. Steen teaches the course in glaucoma and ocular pharmacology at NSU where she has a special interest in pharmaceutical and health policy. Dr. Steen also serves as the Primary Care with Emphasis in Ocular Disease Residency Coordinator. Dr. Steen graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science and completed her residency in Primary Care with Emphasis in Ocular Disease at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Steen’s main clinical interests include glaucoma, retinal disease, neuro-ophthalmic disease with an emphasis in medical and surgical management. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society, and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Palm Beach County Optometric Association.

Jessica Steen, OD, FAAO
Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO
About Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO

Dr. Michael Chaglasian is an associate professor at ICO and chief of staff of the Illinois Eye Institute. He is a graduate of State University of New York College of Optometry and completed a residency in primary eye care/ocular disease at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Dr. Chaglasian is in charge of the Glaucoma Service at the Illinois Eye Institute, providing patient care while instructing residents and students. He is a founding member and treasurer of the Optometric Glaucoma Society and has a number of published articles and has contributed chapters to several popular textbooks on the topics of glaucoma and visual fields.

Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO
Justin Schweitzer OD, FAAO
About Justin Schweitzer OD, FAAO

Dr. Justin Schweitzer is a fellowship-trained optometrist specializing in the treatment of glaucoma, corneal-related vision conditions, and cataracts at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, SD.

Justin Schweitzer OD, FAAO
Katherine Rachon, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO
About Katherine Rachon, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO

Katherine “Katie” Rachon, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO has been practicing at Virginia Eye Consultants in Norfolk and Hampton, VA for 4 years, where she enjoys a busy clinic schedule seeing glaucoma, neuro, anterior segment, and post-operative care patients. She is currently the Optometric Residency and Externship Director and sits on the Education Committee for EyeCare Partners LLC. Dr. Rachon is a frequent speaker for her local continuing education programs, a prior contributor to Woo University, and has been published in Modern Optometry and Review of Optometry. Since her first year of optometry school, she has been active in the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Optometry and continues to participate as a Trustee on the Tidewater Optometric Society executive board. Outside of her career as an Optometrist, she enjoys scuba diving, traveling, and fossil hunting.

Katherine Rachon, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO
Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO
About Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO

Carolyn Majcher is a Doctor of Optometry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She received her Doctorate of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University and completed an ocular disease residency at the Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Following completion of her residency, Dr. Majcher served as Chief of the Retinal Disease Clinic and an Assistant Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry for 8 years. In 2019 she joined the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry as an Associate Professor and the Director of Residency Programs.

Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO
Eyes On Eyecare Editorial Team
About Eyes On Eyecare Editorial Team

Led by Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Gold, PhD, Eyes On Eyecare is a digital publication that provides clinical and career education to the young generation of optometrists and ophthalmologists. We work with eyecare professionals to create compelling, educational content available for free to all those in the eyecare industry. To learn more about our team, values, and other projects, visit our About page.

Eyes On Eyecare Editorial Team
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