Glaucoma is often described as the “silent thief of sight.” Unlike many eye diseases that come on suddenly or cause discomfort or pain, glaucoma can affect your eyes without you even realising that you have a problem. Instead, many of us assume that because we can see clearly and aren’t experiencing any issues, our eyes are healthy. However, glaucoma doesn’t always behave like this. Thankfully, there are ways to detect the early stages of glaucoma and protect your eyesight for the future.
Regular eye checks are one of the best ways to detect glaucoma early and keep your vision healthy for longer. Whether you have a routine appointment or have booked a bulk billed eye test, comprehensive eye examinations can detect early signs of eye disease.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition that damages the optic nerve. The optic nerve sends information from your eye to your brain and can become damaged if pressure in the eye increases. But it can even happen when eye pressure falls within the normal range. The condition tends to develop slowly over many years and often affects your side vision first. Vision lost due to glaucoma cannot be restored, making early detection vital.
Why is glaucoma called a silent disease
Glaucoma is called a silent disease because it may not have symptoms in its early stages. Often, there is no pain, redness, or noticeable change to your vision when glaucoma first develops. Over time, you may begin to lose your peripheral vision without realising it, as your brain fills in what you are missing.
People with undiagnosed glaucoma will continue with daily life activities while their optic nerve becomes increasingly damaged. By the time your vision starts to blur, irreversible damage may already have occurred. Regular eye checks are the best way to detect glaucoma in its early stages.
Who is at greater risk?
Certain factors may increase your risk of developing glaucoma. Your risk of developing glaucoma increases as you age. Particularly after the age of 40, your risk of developing glaucoma increases significantly.
If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with glaucoma, you are at a higher risk of developing the disease. This includes your parents, siblings, children and grandparents. Other factors that may increase your risk include high eye pressure, diabetes, severe nearsightedness, previous eye injury, and long-term use of steroids or medications. Knowing your risk factors can help you decide how often you should book eye examinations.
How can regular eye checks detect glaucoma?
An eye examination is more than just ensuring your glasses or contact lens prescription is up to date. Part of an eye health assessment includes checking the health of various structures inside your eye that you can’t assess from home.
Your eye specialist will check your eye pressure as part of a comprehensive eye exam and review the health of your optic nerve. They may also conduct tests to map your field of vision and check for areas of vision loss that you haven’t yet noticed. Advanced imaging technology also allows them to view the optic nerve and surrounding structures in incredible detail.
All these tests help your eye consultant determine whether there is cause for concern and help detect glaucoma before it starts affecting your vision.
The importance of early detection
The early stages of glaucoma can typically be managed to prevent further damage to your vision. There is currently no cure for glaucoma, which is why catching the disease as early as possible can help you maintain your eyesight.
When glaucoma is detected early on, you and your eye physician can work together to manage your condition. Eye monitoring can begin right away, and if needed, steps can be taken to help lower the pressure in your eye.
By booking regular appointments with your optometrist, you allow them to check your eye health and catch any issues before you notice symptoms.
Many people who are diagnosed and manage their glaucoma will retain usable vision for the rest of their lives. If glaucoma goes untreated, vision loss can continue to get worse until you begin to notice your symptoms.
How often should you have your eyes checked?
If you know you are at risk of developing glaucoma, you will need to have your eyes checked more often than someone who isn’t at risk. If you have family members with glaucoma, you should discuss with your optometrist how often you should be screened for glaucoma.
Even if you are not experiencing any issues with your vision as an adult, you should still have your eyes examined regularly. Your eye specialist can establish a baseline of your eye health and detect any changes over time.
The old saying, ‘wait until your vision gets blurry,’ is not the ideal way to monitor your eyes. With glaucoma, your eyes can suffer permanent damage before you are aware there is a problem.
Protect your vision long-term
It isn’t until you experience changes in your vision that you may realise how valuable good eyesight is. Since glaucoma can affect your eyes without you knowing, monitoring how well you can see is not enough to ensure you have healthy eyes.
During an eye examination, your optometrist can check the overall health of your eyes and screen for early signs of eye disease. Booking regular eye examinations allows you to take the necessary steps to help protect your vision for longer.
Early detection is key when dealing with glaucoma and other eye conditions. If you need regular eye monitoring or glaucoma treatment in Melbourne or any other city, booking regular appointments with your eye physician is one of the best ways you can protect your eye health in the long run.