Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve plays an essential role in your sight, as it carries the information your retina receives to your brain, providing you with vision. Damage from glaucoma is usually caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye.
Glaucoma can occur at any age but is more common in older adults and is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60.
Common signs and symptoms of glaucoma can include:
- Blurred vision
- Severe headaches
- Tunnel vision (In advanced stages)
- Patchy blind spots in peripheral or central vision
At Insights Optical, we use technology to help manage glaucoma, such as:
- Goldmann applanation tonometry—your eye doctor will use this test to detect changes in your eye pressure. This type of tonometry test is the most common and is considered the most accurate for measuring intraocular pressure.
- Non-contact tonometry—your eye doctor will use an instrument to apply air pressure to slightly flatten your cornea. Brief puffs of air will be blown at your cornea to measure the pressure in your eye.