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Glaucoma Screening & Management
Glaucoma is an eye disease that occurs when poorly regulated eye pressure causes progressive damage to your optic nerve. Optic nerve damage results in blind spots that gradually grow larger and can eventually lead to blindness.
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Early diagnosis leads to early treatment, reducing the severity of damage. All providers at Turlock Eyecare are glaucoma certified and have years of experience working with patients who have ocular hypertension, are glaucoma "suspects", and have been diagnosed with any of the many forms of glaucoma. We have all of the specialized testing for both screening and management of glaucoma.
But my eye feels fine and I have great vision ...
In most cases, there are no symptoms (at first). You would not see or feel anything different. This is why it is imperative to have your annual exam. At Turlock Eyecare, our doctors will screen you for glaucoma risks every single year.
My parent has glaucoma, does that mean I will get it?
Family history is a risk factor for glaucoma. If a family member has been diagnosed with glaucoma, it is very important for you to share this information with your optometrist during your visit. They may need to order additional tests to monitor you for signs of glaucoma, depending on their examination.
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Make sure to have your eyes examined annually, even if your vision feels the same. Early glaucoma has no symptoms however you still need an exam!
Can I prevent glaucoma?
You can't do anything specific to avoid glaucoma altogether, but you can make sure to get screened regularly by glaucoma-certified providers. By having annual eye exams, your doctor can check for any risk factors that would warrant further testing. When caught early, there are treatments to manage glaucoma, resulting in a better long term outcome.
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Our providers will review your family and health history, medications, eye pressure and do a physical exam of your optic nerves annually to ensure no further testing is required. Be sure to share all of your medications and health history, as even some over-the-counter creams or ointments can play a role in eye pressure regulation.
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It is also a good idea to opt-in for screening photos at your annual exam. Your optic nerves are photographed in the photos, which is a great baseline image for comparison over time.
Is there treatment?
There are several options to lower eye pressure in order to prevent further damage to optic nerve tissue however there is no treatment to repair nerves that have already experienced damage.
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If your doctor feels you are at risk for developing glaucoma they will go over the options with you. The first line of therapy is typically eye drops that are taken every day to lower the eye pressure. Your doctor will still need to monitor your eye pressure to see if the medication is working to meet the target goal. Once you are on treatment, your provider will create a treatment management plan with you.
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Surgical options are typically reserved for recalcitrant cases of glaucoma, when medical therapy is no longer managing the condition effectively.