Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the generalized name for a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve of the eye, preventing the eye from sending accurate visual information to the brain. Glaucoma causes permanent visual loss, starting with side vision loss. It is very important to diagnose glaucoma as early as possible in order to improve visual outcomes and start a treatment regimen to slow down progression of the disease process.

What Is a Glaucoma Test?

Glaucoma tests are designed to test your eyes for key symptoms of the disease—increased eye pressure and damage to the optic nerve. However, only a comprehensive eye exam can reveal whether or not you have glaucoma. Increased pressure inside the eye is often a key indicator of glaucoma, though not exclusively so. Eye doctors can use a number of tests for eye pressure, but will also check for signs of glaucoma as part of a detailed examination of the retina—the light sensitive area at the back of the eye responsible for processing images.

How Does Glaucoma Testing Work?

A glaucoma test for elevated eye pressure is usually part of a routine eye exam. One glaucoma test involves measuring what happens when a puff of air is blown across the surface of the eye. Another test uses a special device and eye numbing drops to “touch” the surface of the eye to measure eye pressure.

While increased eye pressure is a key indicator of the disease, it does not necessarily mean you have a glaucoma diagnosis. In fact, the only way to detect glaucoma is to have a comprehensive eye exam that often includes dilation of the pupils and a detailed view of the optic nerve. If the optic nerve looks suspicious, closer examination with retinal photos and optical coherence tomography will be performed.

Glaucoma Treatment

Depending on the severity of the disease, treatment for glaucoma can involve the use of medicated eye drops, laser surgery, minimally invasive or conventional surgery or a combination of these treatments.

Medicated eye drops aimed at lowering eye pressure usually are tried first to control glaucoma. If you find that the eye drops you are using for glaucoma are uncomfortable or inconvenient, never discontinue them without first consulting your eye doctor about a possible alternative therapy.

All glaucoma surgery procedures are designed to accomplish one of two basic results: decrease the production of intraocular fluid or increase the drainage of this same fluid. Occasionally, a procedure will accomplish both.

Currently the goal of glaucoma surgery and other glaucoma therapy is to reduce or stabilize eye pressure. When this goal is accomplished, damage to ocular structures – especially the optic nerve – may be prevented.