Glaucoma Diagnosis & Management in Edmonton

Catch The “Silent Thief of Sight”

Glaucoma has earned the moniker “the silent thief of sight” because it develops with little to no symptoms during its earliest stages. But as it progresses, it can permanently damage your vision.

Our team uses the latest technology to detect and diagnose glaucoma before vision damage occurs. Please, book an eye exam with our team and help protect your vision.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease that generally occurs when your intraocular pressure (IOP) levels rise and damage your optic nerve. However, some forms of glaucoma can develop without raising your IOP levels.

Glaucoma initially damages your peripheral vision, but it can also damage your central vision and even cause blindness over time. Although there are several types of glaucoma, 3 of the most common are:

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of this disease. It occurs when your IOP levels rise over time even though the drainage angle between your cornea and iris remains open. IOP levels can increase if your eyes produce too much fluid (aqueous humour) or if the fluid doesn’t drain fast enough to maintain stable pressure.

Our team can detect open-angle glaucoma during a comprehensive eye exam by measuring your IOP levels or checking your optic nerve for damage.

Closed-Angle Glaucoma

Closed-angle, or angle-closure, glaucoma is less common than open-angle glaucoma but can be much more severe. This disease occurs when the drainage angle between your iris and cornea closes, rapidly elevating your IOP levels. Along with sudden vision loss, you may also experience eye pain, headaches, or nausea.

Closed-angle glaucoma is considered to be a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

Normal-Tension Glaucoma

Normal-tension glaucoma can develop without elevated IOP levels. However, our team can diagnose this disease by checking your optic nerve for damage.

Goldmann Applanation Tonometry

Goldmann applanation tonometry is considered the “gold standard” for measuring IOP levels due to its accuracy and reliability. During this test, the tonometer gently presses a probe against the surface of your eye, measuring the amount of force needed to flatten it.

Icare Tonometer

The Icare tonometer is a small, handheld device that can accurately measure your IOP levels by pressing a small probe gently against your cornea. This process is quick and can help our doctors confirm the existence of glaucoma.

Diagnosing Glaucoma

Eyes Harvest Hills is proud to use the latest equipment to search for signs of eye disease, including glaucoma. While there are many ways to assess your optic nerve for damage, we can also diagnose glaucoma by measuring your IOP levels.

Some of the tools we use include:

Find Help Today!

Shine a spotlight on the “silent thief” and stop it in its tracks. With our team’s help, you can find the care solutions you need to preserve your eye health and vision. Please, book your next eye exam with us today!