Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Shelburne

Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve. If not diagnosed and managed early enough, glaucoma may result in irreversible vision loss and potential blindness. The catch is that glaucoma often progresses with no pain, symptoms, or warning signs.

The good news is that glaucoma testing is included in every eye exam at Shelburne Optometry. Because glaucoma is often related to increased intraocular pressure (IOP)—although not always—glaucoma testing involves a process of measuring the internal pressure of your eye.

At Shelburne Optometry, we use:

• • Goldmann Applanation Tonometry: The “gold standard” for testing IOP, the Goldmann tonometer measures the force required to flatten the cornea using a small probe. Because the probe makes contact with the eye, your eyes will be numbed first.

• Tonoref III Non-Contact Tonometry: Non-contact tonometry uses a small puff of air to measure IOP based on the eye’s resistance to the air puff. Because it doesn’t make contact with the eye, patients won’t require anesthesia before the test.

There are several types of glaucoma, including:

• Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: This type of glaucoma is the most common and involves an increased IOP that leads to optic nerve damage. Open-angle glaucoma occurs when the eye’s drainage angle remains open, but the aqueous fluid in the eye can’t drain properly, which puts pressure on the optic nerve. One theory suggests that the drainage system in those who develop open-angle glaucoma has become inefficient over time.
• Angle-Closure Glaucoma: Also known as closed-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma occurs when the eye’s drainage angle becomes blocked or closes suddenly. The lens in the eye becomes larger as we age, which pushes the iris forward and narrows the space between the iris and the cornea. When the angle narrows, the aqueous fluid is blocked from draining, builds up and puts pressure on the optic nerve. Angle-closure glaucoma can develop slowly (chronic) or come on suddenly (acute). Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention.
• Normal-Tension Glaucoma: While many forms of glaucoma are related to increased IOP, optic nerve damage still occurs even when IOP is within the normal range. It’s not entirely clear what causes this type of glaucoma, but experts believe that those who develop it have more sensitive optic nerves.