Risk of Glaucoma Blindness Reduced

There is very good news for patients with high eye pressure, those with glaucoma risk factors and those actually diagnosed with and being treated for glaucoma. Advances in testing, diagnosis and treatment have reduced the risk of blindness from glaucoma by 50% according to researchers from the Mayo Clinic.

About Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition where the eye does not drain fluid properly, resulting in high pressure in the eye that can damage the optic nerve. In the United States, 2.7 million people age 40 and older have the condition. If left untreated, glaucoma reduces peripheral vision and eventually may cause blindness. According to the Mayo Clinic study, the likelihood of losing sight in one eye was 28 percent for patients diagnosed with glaucoma between 1965 and1980. That number fell to 13.5 percent for patients diagnosed between 1981 and 2000.

Preventing Vision Loss from Glaucoma

Patients have a key role to play in preventing vision loss from glaucoma. Early detection is key to saving sight. Despite these advances, 13-15 % of those diagnosed with glaucoma still do go blind. We strongly encourage patients to have regular eye exams with glaucoma testing as this is the best way to detect glaucoma early and initiate treatment as quickly as possible. At Center for Sight we use diagnostic imaging equipment called Optical Coherence Technology (OCT) as well as high resolution digital photography for diagnosing and monitoring progression of the disease. Early detection along with in-office laser treatments has contributed to our ability to prevent vision loss and blindness from glaucoma.

If you or someone you know is concerned about glaucoma, has any risk factors for glaucoma or needs to schedule a glaucoma eye exam, please feel free to call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver.

Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island. 

Time for Glaucoma Eye Exams!

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month and Center for Sight in Fall River wants to remind patients that it is time to schedule an eye exam with the proper level of glaucoma tests if you have not already done so. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment are the keys to preventing vision loss from glaucoma. This is why proper glaucoma eye exams and screenings are so important-especially if you have any glaucoma risk factors.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

Common glaucoma risk include any family history of glaucoma-especially among siblings, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, early menopause, alcohol consumption, being of African-American or Hispanic descent and increasing age.

Eye Exams for Glaucoma

Eye exams for glaucoma should begin by checking your visual acuity with and without your eyeglasses or contact lenses. Then, the tonometry test should be performed. This is a method of measuring your Intraocular Pressure (IOP) and gives us the first piece of important information in determining whether you might have glaucoma. Ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp biomicroscopy with a high magnification lens are also used to detect and diagnose glaucoma. These examination techniques are methods of carefully examining the inside of the eye-especially the optic nerve-in order to detect glaucoma. It is necessary to have some eye drops placed in your eyes in order to dilate your pupils so that we can make a clear and direct observation of the optic nerve.

If either the Intraocular Pressure (IOP) is elevated or the optic nerve appears unusual, additional tests will be necessary in order to complete the glaucoma examination. These may include Visual Field Perimetry, Gonioscopy, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Pachymetry. Should you need any of these tests we will fully explain them to you and answer your questions so that you understand how they allow us to diagnose glaucoma.

If you or someone you know has questions about glaucoma or glaucoma risk factors or needs to schedule a glaucoma eye exam, please call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight or www.facebook.com/CenterForSightFallRiver. 

Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island.