Why Us
When managing glaucoma it is important to detect early, subtle, changes to the optic nerve so that we can initiate therapy to help avoid permanent vision loss in the first place. Glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve that results in a restriction of your visual field. Typically the damage occurs in your extreme periphery and is therefore often unnoticed by the patient until significant vision loss has occurred. This damage is irreversible so it is important to try to initiate therapy early. One of the most difficult aspects of glaucoma is that it is virtually undetectable by the patient.
Overview
You cannot feel the eye pressure that most commonly causes glaucoma damage, and the vision loss is not noticeable until after it is permanently lost. This means that annual exams and advanced technology are very important to detect and treat glaucoma. Typical tests performed are eye pressures, a visual field or your peripheral vision, and a scanning laser test to determine the thickness of your optic nerve. These specialized tests are not available in all eye care practices and must be performed regularly to compare for small changes over time. These small changes are very important though because the risk is severe vision loss if the condition goes undetected and untreated. At Midwest Vision Care we have the ability to perform all these tests in house without the need to refer out to specialist͛s office. Schedule an exam today to determine your risk, or if you have a family member with glaucoma your risk is higher since there is a genetic link that tends to run in families. Remember there is no cure for glaucoma, this is a condition that we must take seriously and treat and manage for a lifetime.