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The main problem in glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the fluid pressure inside the eye. The level of eye pressure at which there is damage to an optic nerve varies between people: some individuals with high eye pressures do not develop nerve damage, while others with normal eye pressure develop progressive nerve damage.

Glaucoma cannot be self-detected, and many people affected by glaucoma may not be aware of any vision loss. It is important to remember that while it is more common as we get older, glaucoma can occur at any age. As vision cannot be regained, treatment around glaucoma is aimed at lowering the pressure inside the eyes so early detection is critically important. Early detection through regular eye testing and adhering to treatment has a huge impact on preventing or slowing down the loss of vision caused by glaucoma.

We know a lot about what increases the risk for someone to develop glaucoma, including having a history of family members with glaucoma. There are also many health conditions that glaucoma can be associated with that are easily overlooked.

In some forms of glaucoma with symptoms, these symptoms may include:

Eye pain

Seeing haloes around lights

Experiencing a headache, blurry vision and/or nauseousness

A fixed, mid-dilated pupil

Slowly losing peripheral vision

Suspecting difficulties with your peripheral vision in getting around and mobility

Some important facts:

2 in 100 Australians will develop Glaucoma in their lifetime and loss of vision from glaucoma can be prevented

1 in 8 Australians aged over 80 years will develop glaucoma

Do you have someone in the family with glaucoma? First degree relatives of people with glaucoma have an up to 10-times increased risk of developing glaucoma

Currently, about 50% of people with glaucoma in Australia do not know they have the conditions

The best way to detect glaucoma is with a comprehensive eye exam. Book an eye test with your local G&M optometrist to check for glaucoma today.

For more information and support on Glaucoma contact Glaucoma Australia.

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Although we don't know everything about what causes glaucoma, we do know that if the eye pressure in the eyes is too high it can cause the optic nerve on the back of the eye to slowly stop working, eventually leading to vision loss and blindness.

A common misconception is that people think they would be able to tell if they have glaucoma, but in fact, someone with glaucoma usually does not know it until there is severe sight loss.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye diseases where vision is lost due to damage to the optic nerve. The damage to the optic nerve causes a gradual loss of sight, especially in the loss of peripheral vision. Generally, as there are no symptoms or warning signs in the early stages of glaucoma, there can be significant loss of vision before there is an awareness of any problem, so the best way to ensure someone does not have glaucoma is from a comprehensive eye test that checks for glaucoma.

What happens to cause glaucoma?

The main problem in glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the fluid pressure inside the eye. The level of eye pressure at which there is damage to an optic nerve varies between people: some individuals with high eye pressures do not develop nerve damage, while others with normal eye pressure develop progressive nerve damage.

Glaucoma cannot be self-detected, and many people affected by glaucoma may not be aware of any vision loss. It is important to remember that while it is more common as we get older, glaucoma can occur at any age. As vision cannot be regained, treatment around glaucoma is aimed at lowering the pressure inside the eyes so early detection is critically important. Early detection through regular eye testing and adhering to treatment has a huge impact on preventing or slowing down the loss of vision caused by glaucoma.

We know a lot about what increases the risk for someone to develop glaucoma, including having a history of family members with glaucoma. There are also many health conditions that glaucoma can be associated with that are easily overlooked.
In some forms of glaucoma with symptoms, these symptoms may include:

Eye pain

Seeing haloes around lights

Experiencing a headache, blurry vision and/or nauseousness

A fixed, mid-dilated pupil

Slowly losing peripheral vision

Suspecting difficulties with your peripheral vision in getting around and mobility

Some important facts:

2 in 100 Australians will develop Glaucoma in their lifetime and loss of vision from glaucoma can be prevented

1 in 8 Australians aged over 80 years will develop glaucoma

Do you have someone in the family with glaucoma? First degree relatives of people with glaucoma have an up to 10-times increased risk of developing glaucoma

Currently, about 50% of people with glaucoma in Australia do not know they have the conditions

The best way to detect glaucoma is with a comprehensive eye exam. Book an eye test with your local G&M optometrist to check for glaucoma today.

For more information and support on Glaucoma contact Glaucoma Australia.
Book appointment

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Glaucoma: Symptoms & Treatment | George & Matilda Eyecare

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Although we don't know everything about what causes glaucoma, we do know that if the eye pressure in the eyes is too high it can cause the optic nerve on the back of the eye to slowly stop working, eventually leading to vision loss and blindness.

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What happens during the behavioural optometry test?

Our child-friendly approach and testing equipment are designed to make your child’s visit pleasant and stress-free:

A comprehensive assessment for your child’s individual visual needs will involve education and exercises and may involve being prescribed stress-relieving glasses.

Very occasionally the optometrist may need to put drops in the eyes to get a better look. The drops may have mild sting for about 15-20 seconds. This is the only part of the examination that may be uncomfortable and is not needed for most patient examinations.

Potentially, the optometrist may recommend Vision Therapy to improve visual efficiency & comfort, and to improve visual information processing skills and speed.

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Sight is incredibly important for learning

Did you know that visual input accounts for 80% of learning*? If the eyes are not working efficiently it could seriously affect the way that information is processed.

What is behavioural optometry?

Behavioural optometry is an extended area of optometry which considers visual motor and visual cognitive skills and assesses both the functioning of the eyes as well as the brain.

The holistic approach assesses how a child processes and interprets visual information and helps detect common eye problems that may accompany or contribute to learning difficulties.

Once a functional visual problem has been identified, the optometrist will outline the benefits of prevention, protection and enhancement for your child's visual system.

Prevent vision and eye problems from developing

Provide treatment for vision problems that have already developed

Develop and enhance the visual skills needed in the classroom

What are some signs I should look out for in my child?

Blurry vision or words

Eyestrain

Tiredness

Sore eyes

Red and itchy eyes

Headaches

Other symptoms associated with eyestrain and visual performance

Poor reading

Sudden drop in school performance

Loss of concentration at near tasks

What happens during the behavioural optometry test?

Our child-friendly approach and testing equipment are designed to make your child's visit pleasant and stress-free:

A comprehensive assessment for your child's individual visual needs will involve education and exercises and may involve being prescribed stress-relieving glasses.

Very occasionally the optometrist may need to put drops in the eyes to get a better look. The drops may have mild sting for about 15-20 seconds. This is the only part of the examination that may be uncomfortable and is not needed for most patient examinations.

Potentially, the optometrist may recommend Vision Therapy to improve visual efficiency & comfort, and to improve visual information processing skills and speed.

One of the eye tests involves reading single letters. For children who aren't confident with their letters the optometrist will use other targets such as simple picture charts.

What to bring to the test?

Glasses, if already wearing them.

Reports from the school or any other health care professional you have seen such as an educational psychologist, occupational therapist, speech therapist or another optometrist. The results of standardised testing (like the WISC) are very helpful.

Examples of handwriting or other work that may be an issue.

Treatments

Early diagnosis means at-risk children can enjoy normal, healthy brain development and reach their full potential as adults. Treatments may include spectacles, coloured lenses and vision therapy including gross motor, final motor and visual information processing.

A comprehensive eye test can also encourage vision development that would otherwise fail to develop if there is no intervention with glasses and Vision Therapy.

*American Optometric Association, School-aged Vision: 6 to 18 years of age, www.aoa.org

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Behavioural Optometry | George & Matilda Eyecare

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Behavioural optometry considers visual motor and visual cognitive skills and assesses both the functioning of the eyes as well as the brain. Book a test now!