Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight.” Why? Because 99% of the time it has no symptoms until it’s too late. Over time, increased eye pressure damages the optic nerve, which slowly erodes your peripheral vision. By the time the central vision is affected, blindness may be permanent.
Components of a Glaucoma Eye Exam
What Makes Glaucoma So Dangerous?
- No Symptoms Early On: Most patients won’t feel any pain or notice vision loss until significant damage has already been done.
- Slow, Progressive Damage: Glaucoma typically damages your peripheral vision first and can take years to notice.
- Permanent Blindness: If left untreated, glaucoma will gradually take away your central vision, leading to irreversible blindness.
How We Screen for Glaucoma
Early detection is the best way to manage glaucoma. At every comprehensive exam, we use a range of tests and technologies to give you the most accurate diagnosis.
Eye Pressure Measurement
The most common sign of glaucoma is elevated eye pressure. However, glaucoma can still occur even with normal pressure, so we look deeper.
Corneal Thickness Measurement
The thickness of your cornea can affect how we interpret your eye pressure readings. Thicker corneas are more protective, while thinner corneas may underestimate pressure. This helps us adjust and understand your risk.
Retinal Photos
Using high-definition retinal photography, we capture detailed images of the back of your eye. These images help us monitor the health of your optic nerve and detect visible signs of glaucoma.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
This technology provides 3D cross-sectional scans of your retina, optic nerve, and cornea. This is a game changer for diagnosis and quantifying glaucomatous damage.
Peripheral Vision Test
We perform a visual field test to assess your peripheral vision. Glaucoma takes away peripheral vision first before it goes central. A gold standard test for quantifying glaucomatous damage.
Why It’s So Important to Screen Early
Glaucoma may not show symptoms until significant damage is done, so regular exams are the only way to catch it early and prevent vision loss. We monitor many critical factors listed above to determine your risk and keep your vision protected.
Ready to Screen for Glaucoma?
Schedule your exam today for a comprehensive eye health checkup.