Glaucoma

• Why it’s important: Glaucoma is a condition which can cause incurable blindness. If it’s detected in its early stages, it’s possible to slow its progression. Individuals are not aware of vision loss until the late stages of the condition.

• How often: Basic glaucoma tests are performed during routine eye checks, but if your optometrist determines you are at higher risk for glaucoma, they may ask you to return more frequently for additional glaucoma tests.

• What’s involved: Glaucoma cannot be diagnosed by one test alone. Your optometrist will test your eye pressures and look at the nerves in the back of your eyes. They may also test your peripheral vision (visual fields), the ‘drainage system’ of your eyes, the thickness of the nerves in the eyes (OCT), and they may refer you to an eye specialist for further opinion.

• How long will it take:  most glaucoma tests can be performed during a routine consultation. If your optometrist requests a peripheral vision (“Visual field”) check, these appointments take up to 30 minutes to complete and may need to be repeated. OCT analysis is also incredibly useful for determining risk of glaucoma and monitoring change over time - this usually takes 15 minutes and is often requested in combination with a visual field test.