Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. The optic nerve sends images from the eye to our brain and allows us to see. Glaucoma affects at least two out of every hundred Americans. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, usually because the fluid pressure inside the eye is too high. Loss of vision from glaucoma can often be prevented if your ophthalmologist discovers the disease before much damage occurs to the optic nerve. Glaucoma must be detected early if treatment is to be successful.

New technology has made the early detection of glaucoma possible. The Westfield Eye Center now utilizes the GDx Nerve Fiber Analyzer. This state-of-the-art piece of equipment is able to determine if you have glaucoma prior to you experiencing any vision loss. The GDx exam is very fast-usually less than 5 minutes-and completely painless. No pupil dilation is necessary; the eye is not even touched. A safe, invisible laser scans the back of the eye and acquires an image in less than one second. The result of the GDx exam is a color-coded "thickness map" of the nerve fiber layer at the back of your eye. This provides your doctor information that he can't get from other exams and helps him determine whether you have glaucoma.

Eye drops or pills are the usual way to treat glaucoma. If they do not control the pressure within the eye, laser surgery may be used to create a tiny opening, allowing the fluid to drain and release the pressure.

FAQ's

Can glaucoma damage sight?
Yes, if it goes untreated glaucoma can damage sight. When pressure within the eye is elevated it can constrict the blood vessels that nourish the visual structures in the back of the eye. Because of the reduced blood supply, visual nerve cells die resulting in some loss of vision. If left unchecked, this process can lead to total blindness.

How can you tell if you have glaucoma?
Usually you can't tell without an examination by your ophthalmologist. In most cases there are no symptoms and in the majority of cases glaucoma develops slowly over a period of years. Some people do experience slight symptoms, these symptoms include a need for frequent change of glasses, difficulty in adjusting to dark rooms, loss of side vision, and blurred vision.

Who gets glaucoma?
Glaucoma usually occurs in people over 35 years of age. A very rare form of glaucoma can occur in infants. People at high risk include those with diabetes or those who have relatives with glaucoma. It is important for people with a family history of glaucoma to have regular eye exams by their ophthalmologist.

Can glaucoma be cured?
No, glaucoma cannot be cured, however, in most cases it can be successfully controlled with the proper treatment.