Glaucoma Testing
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects the health of your optic nerve. The disorder is brought on by an accumulation of fluid in the front of the eye, which raises the pressure in the area and destroys the optic nerve.
There are numerous types of glaucoma, but the most common include:
Primary open-angle glaucoma
The most typical form of glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma. This condition develops gradually over time due to poor fluid drainage in the eye.
Angle-closure glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when your iris is too close to the eye's drainage angle. This can lead to an obstruction that makes it difficult for fluid to drain from the eye. A complete blockage of the drainage angle can cause a sudden rise in pressure within your eye and requires immediate attention.
Normal-tension glaucoma
With normal-tension glaucoma, you have optic nerve damage similar to other forms of glaucoma without high eye pressure.
Without proper treatment, glaucoma can lead to vision loss; it is the leading cause of blindness in people over 60.
What are the symptoms of glaucoma?
Primary open-angle glaucoma doesn’t cause any symptoms in the earliest stages. However, as the condition progresses, you may notice blind spots in your peripheral vision.
In angle-closure glaucoma, you may not have any warning symptoms before the sudden attack, or you may experience:
- Eye redness
- Headaches
- Severe eye pain
- Seeing halos
- Blurred or decreased vision
Any of these symptoms require urgent care from your optometrist, and you should visit Wayne Smith Optometrists for a comprehensive eye exam and glaucoma screening. The optometrists offer both diagnostic glaucoma tests and preventive screenings. Routine glaucoma tests can help identify the disease in the earliest stage.
How is glaucoma treated?
As vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible, we will customise your treatment plan and focuses on preserving your existing vision, working closely with you to prevent the progression of the disease.
Medication
You may benefit from medicated eye drops that help lower pressure in your eye by reducing the amount of fluid your eye produces. Medication can also help improve the flow of fluid through the drainage angle.
Surgery
Sometimes, you may need a referral for surgery to improve your eye’s natural drainage system. Many surgeries for glaucoma involve laser technology to help drain excess fluid and lower the pressure in your eye.
Wayne Smith Optometrists offers referrals to local ophthalmologists and provides comprehensive after-care services to ensure your eyes heal properly.
If you have symptoms of glaucoma or need to schedule a routine glaucoma screening, call us today to request an appointment.
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