Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and potentially blindness if untreated. The damage is often related to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) within the eye, although glaucoma can also occur with normal eye pressure. Glaucoma often has no early symptoms.

At Vision One Eyecare, all comprehensive eye examinations include glaucoma screening (IOP check, fundus lens examination, and OCT). If we find reason to suspect glaucoma, we will perform secondary glaucoma diagnostic testing (e.g. perimetry, gonioscopy).

Risk Factors

• Age over 60
• Family history of glaucoma
• Certain medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure)
• Use of corticosteroid medications
• Eye injuries or surgeries
• High spectacle prescription

Diagnosis

Glaucoma is diagnosed through comprehensive eye exams, including measuring IOP, inspecting the drainage angle, and assessing optic nerve damage. Early detection is crucial as vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible.

We have all the essential diagnostic equipment for glaucoma:

• Tonometer: Measures intraocular pressure (IOP). We prefer to use applanation tonometry, which is more accurate than the puff test tonometry.
• Fundus lens examination: This is done using a table-top slit lamp to assess nerve damage.
• Medmont Perimeter: Used for perimetry or visual field testing, this equipment maps the field of vision to detect peripheral vision loss, a common early sign of glaucoma.
• Gonioscope: Used for gonioscopy, this device examines the drainage angle of the eye to determine if it is open or closed, which helps in diagnosing the type of glaucoma.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): This imaging test measures the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) around the optic nerve, which is crucial for detecting early to moderate glaucoma damage. This also takes pachymetry, to assess the corneal thickness.

Regular eye exams are essential for early detection and management of glaucoma to prevent significant vision loss.