Glaucoma Testing & Treatments

Glaucoma can cause slight to severe vision loss, and is often discovered only after the disease is present—this is why glaucoma testing is so important. Early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and patient compliance to the treatment program are all crucial in slowing or preventing the progression of glaucoma.

Unfortunately, there is not just one test that will diagnose glaucoma. At Ft. Lauderdale Eye Associates we have state-of-the art equipment and testing procedures to help ensure our patients receive the earliest possible diagnosis, followed by the most appropriate treatment options.

Glaucoma Testing:

During your comprehensive eye exam in our Fort Lauderdale office, the doctor will:

• View and evaluate your optic nerve and retinal health through a dilated pupil.
• Use a Goldman tonometer to measure your IOP – the intraocular pressure inside your eye.
• Perform a careful visual evaluation of the optic nerve through a dilated pupil.
• View the internal structures of your eye to make sure nothing is interfering with the outflow and drainage of the eyes intraocular fluids.
• Complete confrontation fields for any gross peripheral vision defects.

If your comprehensive eye exam done in our Fort Lauderdale office reveals that you are a Glaucoma suspect, the following painless tests may be performed in our office to make a definitive diagnosis. These tests will also differentiate the type of glaucoma you have, the extent of any optic nerve damage and any vision loss you may currently have. Several of these tests will be used in the future to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment regiments prescribed for you.

• Gonioscopy to get a clear view of the drainage system of the eye responsible for maintaining normal pressure inside the eye.
• Digital photos may be taken for current documentation and future changes in the optic nerve.
• Serial Tonometry to measure the intraocular pressure over a period of time.
• Visual Field Testing – our office utilizes both the Zeiss visual field testing and Matrix Visual Fields.
• Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT).
• Blood Flow Analyzer.
• Pachymetry

Glaucoma Treatment

Early and appropriate treatment are key to slowing or preventing vision loss from glaucoma. Depending on the type and severity of glaucoma, management of your glaucoma may involve one or a combination of the following treatments:

• Systemic medications.
• Prescription Eye drops.
• Laser Trabeculoplasty
• Peripheral Laser Iridotomy (LPI).
• Filtering and shunt surgery

All glaucoma surgery procedures (whether laser or non-laser) are designed to accomplish one of two basic results:

• Decrease the production of intraocular fluid.
• Increase the outflow (drainage) of intraocular fluid

Patient Compliance is Important:

Because glaucoma is often painless, people may become careless about strict use of eye drops that control eye pressure. In fact, non-compliance with a program of prescribed glaucoma medication is a major reason for blindness resulting from glaucoma.

If you find that the eye drops you are prescribed are uncomfortable or inconvenient, never discontinue them without consulting your eye doctor from our office in Fort Lauderdale about a possible alternative.