Glaucoma occurs with damage to the eye’s optic nerve and can often lead to loss of vision and blindness. We recommend annual eye exams for anyone over the age of 40, as early detection decreases your risk of serious vision loss.
To detect glaucoma, our skilled doctors will perform proper screening to determine severity, examine damage, and help you manage your glaucoma. The screening and monitoring we perform are as follows:
- OCT- Optical Coherence Tomography, or OCT, utilizes the latest imaging technology in evaluating structural damage caused by glaucoma. This non-invasive technique allows for cross-sectional imaging of the internal eye, allowing our doctors to accurately evaluate damage and prognosis.
- Visual Field- This test examines how functional your peripheral vision is. As peripheral damage is the first to deteriorate as glaucoma progresses, it is important to examine the extent of your peripheral vision ability.
- Pressure Tests- Using an instrument called a tonometer, our trained doctors examine the amount of pressure inside the eye. Examining pressure buildup inside the eye is an indicator of how damaged your optic nerves may be and can help identify the progression of your glaucoma.
- Dilated Eye Exams- During this exam, our doctors place drops in your eyes that dilate, or widen, your pupils. This enables us to properly examine your retina and optic nerve for further signs of damage. Following this exam,closer objects will be blurred for a few hours.
Early detection of glaucoma is crucial in preventing vision loss and blindness. The earlier, the better. That being said, however, there is no official cure for glaucoma. There are simply treatment methods that manage, slow down or stop the process. Our doctors closely monitor the affected eye(s) and recommend frequent monitoring. Different treatments are available for managing your glaucoma vary from eyedrops to lasers.
To learn more about what treatment plan best fits your unique visual needs, please don’t hesitate to call us today at (814) 946-3937!