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It is a group of eye conditions in which the main nerve at the back of the eye is damaged. The common form of glaucoma is normally very slow to progress but gradually damages your peripheral (side) vision. Eventually it can result in tunnel vision – like looking down a long tube – or even complete loss of sight. When eye pressure is raised there is greater risk of developing glaucoma but raised eye pressure alone does not necessarily mean you have glaucoma.
During an eye examination at the opticians (also known as the optometrists) the relatively quick ‘non-contact’ pressure measurements (e.g. ‘air puff’) sometimes give high readings which require confirmation using more precise and standardised methods.
Through this service you will have your eye pressure measurements repeated with hospital-standard equipment, as well as having other tests repeated such as visual field checks if this is required. Repeating glaucoma readings reduces unnecessary visits to hospital and improves the data sent into hospital eye clinics, when necessary.
The Glaucoma Repeat Readings service may involve up to two additional visits to the opticians to gather sufficient information to reach a conclusion.
During the appointment, an optometrist will put an eye drop in your eye to numb the surface, this will allow them to use a small instrument to gently touch the front of the eye and take a measurement. The visual field test involves looking ahead and clicking a button when you see small lights to the side.
If raised eye pressure is confirmed, or visual fields show signs of glaucoma you may be referred to hospital or community clinic for further investigation. If the pressure and the results from other tests are normal you will be discharged from the service for routine eye tests.
This service is intended for patients who have been referred, usually after a sight test, for further evaluation due to suspected glaucoma but haven’t already been seen within the Glaucoma Repeat Readings Service.
This case finding service includes all the below assessments:
During the appointment, an optometrist will put an eye drop in your eye to numb the surface. This will allow them to use a small instrument to gently touch the front of the eye and take a pressure measurement. Assessing the inside of your eye is usually done with a specialised microscope and sometimes also using diagnostic scanning devices such as an Optical Coherence Tomographer (OCT). Sometimes eyedrops are used to enlarge the pupil to get a clearer view. The visual field test involves looking ahead and clicking a button when you see small lights to the side.
Following the comprehensive enhanced case finding assessment if glaucoma continues to be suspected you may be referred to hospital or community clinic for further investigation. If the findings are normal, you will be discharged from the service for routine eye tests.
Ocular hypertension is where the pressure in the eye is higher than normal but there are no other signs of glaucoma. Sometimes ocular hypertension may be monitored without needing treatment, but if there is a risk of glaucoma then treatments are used to lower the pressure, usually with eyedrops or lasers.
This service includes:
It may be recommended to have eye drops to enlarge your pupils and allow a clearer view. For this reason, it is best not to drive to your initial appointment and to discuss the exact nature of future follow-up with your optometrist.
Following the monitoring assessment, you may be referred to hospital or community clinic for further investigation or continue to be monitored within the service.
