Diagnostic Testing & Treatment
If Your OCB Eye Doctor Suspects Glaucoma, You Can Expect to Undergo the Following Tests
Ophthalmoscopy
Your OCB eye doctor inspects your optic nerve for signs of damage using an ophthalmoscope, an instrument that magnifies the interior of the eye. Your pupils will be dilated (enlarged) with eye drops to allow your doctor a better view of your optic nerve.
A normal optic nerve is made up of more than one million tiny nerve fibers. As glaucoma damages the optic nerve, it causes the death of some of these nerve fibers. As a result, the appearance of the optic nerve changes. This is referred to as cupping. As the cupping increases, blank spots begin to develop in your field of vision.
If Your Eye Pressure is Not in the Normal Range, or Your Optic Nerve Looks Unusual, Your OCB Eye Doctor Will Perform the Following Glaucoma Tests
Gonioscopy
Gonioscopy allows your OCB eye doctor to examine the drainage angle of your eye and helps him or her to determine if you have open-angle glaucoma (where the drainage angle is not working efficiently enough), closed-angle glaucoma (where the drainage angle is at least partially blocked), or a dangerously narrow angle (where the iris is so close to the eye’s drain that the iris could block it).
Treatment
Most types of glaucoma can be controlled but not cured. The damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed, therefore the goal of treatment is to control eye pressure and stop further damage. The most common treatment for glaucoma is medicated eye drops that lower fluid pressure in the eye, preventing any more damage to the optic nerve and further vision loss.
Depending on the severity and responsiveness of your condition, your OCB eye doctor may recommend laser or incisional surgical procedures that will improve drainage of fluid out of the eye, and lower pressure.
If you have glaucoma, preserving your vision requires strong teamwork between you and your OCB eye doctor. Your doctor can prescribe treatment, but it’s important to follow your treatment plan closely. Taking your medications as prescribed is the only way to keep your eye pressure controlled. It is also important to follow through with regular exams as recommended. That way your OCB eye doctor will know whether the fluid pressure in your eye is at a safe range.
