Glaucoma is a range of eye diseases where the intraocular pressure (the pressure inside the eye) is too high for the eye causing damage to the optic nerve. This damage to the optic nerve may come from a range of problems such as in the disruption of aqueous fluid flowing to and from the eye (through the “angle of the eye”), or problems to the optic nerve fibres such as poor bloody supply. The damage from glaucoma is very often asymptomatic and permanent (irreversible), meaning you won’t know you have the disease until it has become very severe, causing permanent “tunnel vision.” This is because glaucoma affects one’s peripheral vision, and if left unchecked one will develop tunnel-like vision where the visual field is so constricted it is like looking through a narrow tunnel. This can even progress to blindness. As a result, it is important to have regular glaucoma checks to help feel more at ease with your eye and your glaucoma can be kept to a minimum particularly if you have a family history of this disease.
A glaucoma specialist normally performs the eye exams to ensure that your glaucoma is first diagnosed and then kept to a minimum. At present, there are no glaucoma cures available however many people are able to take care of their glaucoma by regularly using special glaucoma eye drops to control the intraocular pressure. These eye drops slow down the progression of the disease.
Our glaucoma tests are comprehensive to ensure the accuracy of the progression of your eye disease. These tests include:
- Screening
- Checking the pressure of your eyes, also called tonometry
- Scanning of the optic nerve
- Testing your visual fields as glaucoma affects your eye’s side vision first. This is tested by using the Humphrey Vision Field machine.
Heidelberg Engineering is renowned in ophthalmology for designing some of the best equipment in the industry. The newest generation of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) machines is the Spectralis, which provides Murdoch Ophthalmology with a quick and non-invasive procedure for the patient whilst providing us with the most detailed retinal pathology images available including an anterior segment model for narrow angles, anterior chamber angle, and sclera.