Specialty Eye Care
Glaucoma Screening and Management
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve gradually, taking peripheral vision first, and produces no symptoms until damage is substantial. Because lost vision cannot be recovered, screening and monitoring are the only effective defence.
In short
Silent, irreversible, and detectable long before you would notice it.
Glaucoma takes peripheral vision so gradually that the brain fills in the missing areas, which is why people routinely lose a significant proportion of their visual field before noticing anything at all. By the time vision loss is apparent, permanent damage has already occurred.
None of that damage can be recovered. What can be done, reliably and effectively, is to detect it early and slow or halt further loss. That is why glaucoma screening is part of every comprehensive examination here rather than an optional extra.
Screening looks at several things together, because no single measurement is sufficient. Intraocular pressure matters but a substantial proportion of glaucoma occurs at normal pressures. The appearance of the optic nerve, the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer measured on OCT, and the visual field together give a far more reliable picture than pressure alone.
What to expect
- Intraocular pressure measurement
- One indicator among several. Normal pressure does not exclude glaucoma.
- Optic nerve assessment
- The nerve head is examined and imaged, since its appearance changes characteristically as damage occurs.
- OCT nerve fibre layer imaging
- Measures the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer, detecting thinning before any field loss appears.
- Visual field testing
- Maps functional peripheral vision, showing what has already been affected.
What this does not do
- Vision already lost to glaucoma cannot be restored. Treatment protects what remains.
- It is a lifelong condition needing ongoing monitoring rather than a one off treatment.
- Advanced cases requiring surgical intervention are co-managed with an ophthalmologist.
Questions and answers
Am I at risk?
Risk rises with age and is higher with a family history of glaucoma, African or Hispanic ancestry, diabetes, high myopia, previous eye injury and long term steroid use. Anyone with a first degree relative with glaucoma should be screened regularly regardless of age.
Does normal eye pressure mean I do not have glaucoma?
No, and this is the most important misconception about the condition. Normal tension glaucoma occurs at pressures within the normal range and accounts for a substantial share of cases. That is why nerve imaging and field testing matter alongside pressure.
How often should I be screened?
Screening forms part of every comprehensive examination. Anyone with risk factors or suspicious findings is monitored more frequently, typically every six to twelve months.
Is glaucoma treatable?
Yes. Most cases are managed effectively with pressure lowering drops, and laser and surgical options exist for cases that need them. The determining factor in outcome is how early it is found.
Talk to someone about glaucoma screening and management
Appointments are scheduled two per hour, so there is time to answer questions properly. Call (480) 706-3937 or request a time online.