Q: My eye doctor told me that I needed to come back for glaucoma tests after we finished my regular vision exam. What kind of tests am I in for?
A: Your “regular” annual eye exam should include a test for eye pressure, as well as your vision testing, and an examination of the inside of your eyes. Our eyes normally have a pressure inside, like a water balloon, and if your exam testing found that pressure higher than normal, you should have more evaluation. Also an indication of concern could be the appearance of your optic nerves, because pressure damage from glaucoma can change the “geography” of your optic nerves. There are a few other indications of glaucoma concern we may see in your regular eye exam.
When you return for further testing, your eye doctor will likely recheck your eye pressures first. And good news, the most accurate way to check your eye pressure no longer requires that ”dreaded” air puff test! Everyone hated that test. The newer, better method has no surprise puff and no discomfort at all.
We also evaluate your “visual fields” for defects. Our field of vision can be damaged by elevated eye pressure and/or optic nerve damage. This painless test will show you tiny spots of light and you simply push a button to signal that you saw each point of light. This can find very small defects in your field of vision, years before you might see the defects in normal living.
Lastly, we generally evaluate a scan of each optic nerve, looking for glaucoma type structural changes. Glaucoma can gradually, and painlessly, erode and thin the optic nerve tissue over time. Thinning or erosion of the nerve tissue will eventually lead to vision loss.
So there really is no single test to diagnose glaucoma…..it is a judgement call made by your clinician, and based on several factors, including these three main ones. More good news: if glaucoma is diagnosed, treatments are very effective to stop or prevent damage and potential vision loss. Topical medications as eye drops, and outpatient painless laser treatments, are generally used to reduce the pressure and protect the optic nerves.
Again, because glaucoma is generally totally painless, and causes no vision change, do not be misled…..you will likely have no symptoms of the disease. Trust your eye doctor.