Glaucoma

Q: What is the best treatment for glaucoma?

There is no single best glaucoma treatment — the right therapy depends on the type of glaucoma, severity, age, and how well your eye pressure responds. Dr. Vendal offers the full spectrum: SLT and DSLT laser, glaucoma stents (iStent Inject, iStent Infinite, Hydrus), canaloplasty (OMNI), goniotomy (Kahook Dual Blade, Trabectome, iAccess), and sustained-release implants iDose TR and Durysta.

Q: Is glaucoma surgery safe? What is MIGS?

MIGS — Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery — uses micro-incisions and devices smaller than an eyelash to improve the eye's natural drainage. MIGS procedures like stents, canaloplasty, and goniotomy have an excellent safety profile, faster recovery than traditional glaucoma surgery, and are often performed alongside cataract surgery. Dr. Vendal is a high-volume MIGS surgeon.

The Silent Thief
of Sight.

Austin's Trusted Glaucoma Specialists

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness — and for most patients, it progresses without warning. Westlake Eye Specialists is Austin's trusted glaucoma center, offering the earliest detection and most advanced treatments in Central Texas, led by Dr. Zarmeena Vendal, MD, a Harvard-trained Austin glaucoma surgeon.

Harvard

Fellowship-trained

Treatments offered

Central TX locations

01What is Glaucoma

Expert diagnosis and treatment from Austin's trusted glaucoma specialists.

Glaucoma isn't a single disease — it's a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the structure that carries every image you see from your eye to your brain.

The most common cause is increased intraocular pressure (IOP). This pressure gradually erodes the nerve fibers — often without pain, often without noticeable vision changes — until the damage is permanent. That's why it's called the silent thief.

At Westlake Eye Specialists, we've built our practice around catching glaucoma early and treating it precisely. Our team serves patients throughout Austin, Kyle, Killeen, New Braunfels, and Georgetown, TX with a full spectrum of diagnostics and treatments — from routine monitoring to sub-millimeter stent surgery.

"Once vision is lost to glaucoma, it cannot be restored. But the disease is almost always treatable if we find it early." Dr. Zarmeena Vendal, MD — Harvard-Trained Glaucoma Specialist

03Causes & Risk Factors

A pressure problem with a plumbing cause.

The eye continuously produces aqueous humor, a clear fluid that exits through a tiny drainage angle where the iris meets the cornea. When drainage stalls, pressure rises — and pressure is what damages the optic nerve.

How fluid pressure damages the nerve

Aqueous humor is produced behind the iris by the ciliary body, flows forward between the iris and lens, and exits through the trabecular meshwork at the drainage angle. When that meshwork becomes blocked or inefficient, fluid backs up — and the pressure compresses the delicate optic nerve fibers at the back of the eye.

Who is most at risk?

Seven clinical risk factors

iAge over 60. Risk rises steeply after this threshold.
iiFamily history. First-degree relatives carry 4–9× the risk.
iiiAfrican, Asian, or Hispanic heritage. Earlier onset and higher prevalence.
ivDiabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. Vascular health affects nerve perfusion.
vThin corneas. Can mean true IOP is underestimated on standard exams.
viProlonged corticosteroid use. Oral, topical, and inhaled steroids all matter.
viiPrior eye injury or surgery. Including distant trauma decades earlier.

04Types of Glaucoma

Six forms, each with its own behavior and treatment plan.

Glaucoma is best understood as a family of related diseases. Below are the six types we most frequently diagnose and treat — each linked to a dedicated page with symptoms, causes, and care pathways.

Most common

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Slow-progressing and painless. The drainage angle appears open, but fluid still doesn't exit efficiently. Early detection is everything.

Learn more →

ii.

Medical emergency

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

A sudden, painful blockage of fluid drainage. Causes nausea, halos, and rapid vision loss. Requires immediate treatment.

Learn more →

iii.

Subtle

Normal-Tension Glaucoma

Optic nerve damage despite pressure readings in the normal range. Often linked to vascular factors and requires nuanced workup.

Learn more →

iv.

Pigment related

Pigmentary Glaucoma

Pigment granules shed from the iris clog drainage channels. Seen more often in younger, nearsighted patients.

Learn more →

Pediatric

Congenital Glaucoma

A rare, inherited form present in infants and young children. Early surgical intervention can preserve lifelong vision.

Learn more →

vi.

Acquired

Secondary Glaucoma

Caused by injury, medications, or other eye conditions — such as uveitis, diabetes-related neovascularization, or prior surgery.

Learn more →

05How We Diagnose

Advanced Glaucoma Testing, all under one roof.

Glaucoma doesn't reveal itself on any single test. At Westlake Eye Specialists we use a complete, integrated diagnostic workup — pressure measurement, high-resolution optic nerve imaging, peripheral vision mapping, drainage-angle evaluation, and corneal analysis — all performed in-office and reviewed personally by Dr. Vendal.

When something begins to change in your eye, this layered approach lets us see it before you do — so your treatment plan can be adjusted immediately, long before vision is at risk.

Testing is available at every one of our Central Texas clinics — Austin, Kyle, Killeen, New Braunfels, and Georgetown.

"Early, accurate diagnosis is the foundation of everything we do. The earlier we catch glaucoma, the more of your vision we can protect — for life." Dr. Zarmeena Vendal, MD

07Meet Your Specialist

Dr. Zarmeena Vendal, MD

Harvard-Trained Glaucoma & Cataract Surgeon · Founder, Westlake Eye Specialists

Dr. Vendal is a nationally recognized eye surgeon and one of the most experienced glaucoma specialists in Central Texas. She trained at Harvard Medical School, where she completed a fellowship in glaucoma care and minimally invasive surgical techniques.

As the founder of Westlake Eye Specialists, she combines world-class training with a patient-first approach — unhurried consultations, transparent decision-making, and a treatment plan built for your life, not a template.

Fellowship

Harvard Medical School — Glaucoma & MIGS

Board

American Board of Ophthalmology

Clinical Specialties

SLT / DSLT laser therapy
Glaucoma stents & canaloplasty
Goniotomy & tissue excision MIGS
iDose TR & Durysta implants

08Frequently Asked Questions

Austin glaucoma questions, answered by Dr. Vendal.

Straight answers to the questions patients across Austin, Kyle, Killeen, New Braunfels, and Georgetown most often ask when they begin glaucoma care at Westlake Eye Specialists.

Who is the best glaucoma specialist in Austin, Texas?

Dr. Zarmeena Vendal, MD is a Harvard fellowship-trained glaucoma and cataract surgeon widely regarded as one of the top Austin glaucoma specialists. As founder of Westlake Eye Specialists, she personally performs all six of our featured treatments — SLT/DSLT laser, stents, canaloplasty, goniotomy, iDose TR, and Durysta. Patients from across Central Texas — including Austin, Westlake, Kyle, Killeen, New Braunfels, and Georgetown — come to Dr. Vendal for second opinions and advanced surgical care.

What are the early signs and symptoms of glaucoma?

Most types of glaucoma — especially primary open-angle glaucoma — have no early symptoms. Vision loss begins in the peripheral field and progresses so gradually that up to 40% of the nerve can be damaged before patients notice. The only reliable way to catch glaucoma early is advanced glaucoma testing in a comprehensive eye exam. Angle-closure glaucoma is the exception: it causes sudden eye pain, nausea, blurred vision, and halos, and is a medical emergency.

Can glaucoma be cured?

Glaucoma cannot be cured, and vision already lost to glaucoma cannot be restored. However, glaucoma is highly treatable. With early diagnosis and consistent treatment — SLT/DSLT laser, stents, canaloplasty, goniotomy, or sustained-release implants like iDose TR and Durysta — most patients can keep their vision for life. The goal of every treatment plan at Westlake Eye Specialists is to lower eye pressure enough to stop further optic nerve damage.

What is the best treatment for glaucoma?

There is no single "best" glaucoma treatment — the right therapy depends on the type of glaucoma, severity, age, and how well your eye pressure responds. Dr. Vendal offers the full spectrum: SLT/DSLT laser, glaucoma stents (iStent Inject, iStent Infinite, Hydrus), canaloplasty (OMNI), goniotomy (Kahook Dual Blade, Trabectome, iAccess), and sustained-release implants iDose TR and Durysta.

How much does glaucoma treatment cost in Austin?

Glaucoma testing, medications, laser procedures, and MIGS surgery are covered by most major insurance plans and Medicare when medically necessary. Westlake Eye Specialists accepts a wide range of insurance and offers transparent pricing and financing for any out-of-pocket costs. Call (512) 472-4011 for a personalized estimate based on your plan.

How often should I be tested for glaucoma?

Adults with average risk should have a comprehensive eye exam every 1–2 years. Patients over 60, those of African, Asian, or Hispanic heritage, people with a family history of glaucoma, and patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, or prior eye injury should be screened annually or more often. Once glaucoma is diagnosed, monitoring typically occurs every 3–6 months.

Is glaucoma surgery safe? What is MIGS?

MIGS — Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery — uses micro-incisions and devices smaller than an eyelash to improve the eye's natural drainage. MIGS procedures like stents, canaloplasty, and goniotomy have an excellent safety profile, faster recovery than traditional glaucoma surgery, and are often performed alongside cataract surgery. Dr. Vendal is a high-volume MIGS surgeon.

Where is Westlake Eye Specialists located?

Westlake Eye Specialists serves Central Texas from five locations: Westlake / Austin, Kyle, New Braunfels, Killeen, and Georgetown. Our flagship surgical suite is in South Austin. To schedule a glaucoma consultation, call (512) 472-4011 or request an appointment online.

The Silent Thief
of Sight.

Expert diagnosis and treatment from Austin's trusted glaucoma specialists.

Most glaucoma patients don't know they have it — until the vision they've lost is gone for good.