What is it?
Glaucoma is a condition that damages your eye’s optic nerve and gets worse over time. It is often associated with a buildup of pressure inside the eye. The good news is that glaucoma can be managed if detected early and with proper treatment, most people with glaucoma will not lose their sight.
How can it be detected?
Glaucoma is detected through a comprehensive dilated eye exam that includes the following:
- Visual acuity test – Measures how well you see at various distances.
- Visual field test – Measures your peripheral (side) vision. Loss of peripheral vision is a sign of glaucoma.
- Dilated eye exam – Drops are placed in your eyes to dilate the pupils. A special magnifying lens is used to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems. After the exam, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.
- Tonometry – Measures the pressure inside the eye by using an instrument called a tonometer. Numbing drops may be applied to your eye for this test.
- Pachymetry – Numbing drops are applied to your eye and an ultrasonic wave instrument is used to measure the thickness of your cornea.
Treatment options:
Depending on the severity, glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, pills, laser surgery, traditional surgery or a combination of these methods. Lasik surgery and eye drops can be used as effective treatments for glaucoma that is detected early.
Take home points:
The important thing is to get an early diagnosis. If you are over the age of 40 and have a family history of glaucoma, you should have a complete eye exam with an eye specialist every one to two years. The goal is to prevent loss of vision, as vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible. For tips on eye care, check out our article on 5 Easy Tips to Maintain Healthy Eyes.
If you would like to have a complete eye checkup or examination with an eye specialist, call our friendly medical concierge at +65 6679 7867 or email us at customercare@tmcg.com.sg and we will be on hand to assist you.