Services » Optometric/Ophthalmology » Glaucoma

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. In the early stages of the disease, there may be no symptoms. Experts estimate that half of the people affected by glaucoma may not know they have it. Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve acts like an electric cable with over a million wires. It is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain. There is no cure for glaucoma—yet. However, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. The appropriate treatment depends upon the type of glaucoma among other factors. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease.
"Glaucoma Research Foundation”

At your yearly examinations you will have the following testing:

• Dilation You will have drops put into both eyes so the doctor can get a better detailed look at the optic nerve. Also is required for the photos you will have done on that day
• Gonioscopy This test uses a special mirrored lense that checks where the iris meets the cornea in four different quadrants depending on the type of glaucoma you have.
• Fundus Photography This camera is used to take a high magnification photo of your optic nerves’ shape and appearance for documentation to be used on future eye examinations. Your eyes will be dilated prior to taking the picture.
• FDT Matrix This test is a peripheral vision test that tells us how well your optic nerves are functioning and maps if there is any vision loss
• Color Vision Testing To test if there is any color deficiency

At 4 month follow-up appointment from examination, you will have the following testing:

• Tonometry This test measures the inner pressure of the eye. Usually drops are used to numb the eye. Then the doctor or technician will use a special device that measures the eye’s pressure
• OCT This instrument utilizes a technique which creates images by use of special beams of light. The OCT machine can create a contour map of the optic nerve, optic cup and measure the retinal nerve fiber thickness. It takes your eye against the normative database for your age to tell us how you compare. You may have to be dilated for this

At 8 month follow-up appointment from examination, you will have the following testing:

• Tonometry This test measures the inner pressure of the eye. Usually drops are used to numb the eye. Then the doctor or technician will use a special device that measures the eye’s pressure
• Perimetry The perimetry test is called a 24-2 which is a visual field test. You will be asked to press a response button every time you see a light that appears in your peripheral vision. When testing is over we will be able to tell how the glaucoma is progressing based on the map of your vision

Glaucoma Suspect

High eye pressure alone does not mean that you have glaucoma, but it is an important risk factor your eye doctor will use to determine your risk for developing the disease. The most important risk factors include age, elevated eye pressure, African ancestry, thin cornea, family history of glaucoma, nearsightedness, past injuries to the eyes, steroid use, or a history of severe anemia or shock. Your eye doctor will weigh all of these factors before deciding if you need treatment for glaucoma; or whether you should be monitored regularly as a glaucoma suspect to detect the early signs of damage to the optic nerve.
“U of M Eye Center”

To determine if you have glaucoma, there are 3 appointments that need to be set up. At the end of your 3rd appointment, the doctor will go over all your results with you.

1st appointment:

• Perimetry The perimetry test is called a 24-2 which is a visual field test. You will be asked to press a response button every time you see a light that appears in your peripheral vision. When testing is over we will be able to tell if there is any damage to the optic nerve based on the map of your vision
• Tonometry This test measures the inner pressure of the eye. Usually drops are used to numb the eye. Then the doctor or technician will use a special device that measures the eye’s pressure
• Pachymetry This measurement checks the central corneal thickness of your eyes. This measurement directly affects the inner pressure reading of your eye depending whether it is thick or thin
• Gonioscopy This test uses a special mirrored lense that checks the drainage channels of the eyes to determine what type of glaucoma you may have.

2nd appointment:

• Tonometry This test measures the inner pressure of the eye. Usually drops are used to numb the eye. Then the doctor or technician will use a special device that measures the eye’s pressure
• OCT This instrument utilizes a technique which creates images by use of special beams of light. The OCT machine can create a contour map of the optic nerve, optic cup and measure the retinal nerve fiber thickness. You may have to be dilated for this

3rd appointment:

• Tonometry This test measures the inner pressure of the eye. Usually drops are used to numb the eye. Then the doctor or technician will use a special device that measures the eye’s pressure
• Fundus Photography This camera is used to take a high magnification photo of your optic nerves’ shape and appearance for documentation to be used on future eye examinations. This will allow the doctor to see a 3-dimensional view of your optic nerves. Your eyes will dilated prior to taking the picture

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