Cataract

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness. Approximately 2% of people over the age of 40 have Glaucoma and the risk increases with age.

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the internal pressure in your eyes increases enough to damage the nerve fibres in your optic nerve and cause vision loss. The increase of pressure happens when the passages that normally allow fluid in your eyes to drain become clogged and blocked.

The most common type of glaucoma develops gradually and painlessly without symptoms in the early stages. Severe loss of peripheral vision may occur before the sufferer realises there is a problem.

A rarer type of glaucoma occurs more rapidly and its symptoms may include blurred vision, loss of side vision, seeing coloured rings around lights and pain or redness in the eyes.

Glaucoma most often occurs in people over the age of 40. People with a family history of glaucoma and those very near sighted or diabetic are at higher risk of developing the disease. That is why Visique Botany Optometrists recommends more regular eye examinations for people at risk.

Early detection is important. Glaucoma cannot be prevented, but if diagnosed and treated early, it can be controlled. Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored.

A comprehensive vision assessment and eye health examination will include a tonometry test to measure the pressure in your eyes; an examination of the inside of your eyes and a computerised visual fields test to check for changes in central and side vision.