Glaucoma Management Toronto | Glaucoma Brampton

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve, usually as a result of increased pressure within the eye.

There are two main types of glaucoma: Open-angle glaucoma and Angle-closure glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is more common and involves fluid in the eye not draining properly through the trabecular meshwork. Angle-closure glaucoma involves intermittent increases in eye pressure due to poor drainage because the space between the iris and the cornea is too narrow.

Most patients do not experience any symptoms from high eye pressure, and during the early stages of glaucoma they do not notice the side vision loss. This makes it difficult for many patients to know if they have the disease. As glaucoma progresses, patients may experience a loss of peripheral or side vision.

View Video

Diagnosing Glaucoma

Since many patients do not experience any symptoms during the early stages of glaucoma, a diagnosis may only be made during a regular eye exam. It is important for patients, especially those with a higher risk of developing glaucoma, to have their eyes checked by an optometrist at least once a year.

Your doctor may recommend several different eye tests in order to detect signs of glaucoma. Visual field testing is commonly performed to measure the extent and sensitivity of peripheral vision. This is where glaucoma patients show the earliest signs of vision loss.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is also commonly used and the latest versions of these devices are available at Prism Eye Institute. This high-tech equipment produces a highly detailed image of the layers within the eye within minutes. Your doctor will use OCT to assess the thickness and health of the retina, macula, optic nerve and more, all without even touching the eye. For glaucoma, OCT of the layers around the optic nerve can help your doctor identify glaucoma-related defects before they appear in one’s vision and well before a patient would notice any symptoms.

Clinic Visit with a Glaucoma Specialist

During a clinic visit with a glaucoma specialist, patients can expect a thorough evaluation using various diagnostic tools. The specialist will discuss treatment options, which can range from prescription eye drops to laser procedures and surgical interventions.

Glaucoma laser procedures are non-invasive, done in the office and patients can go home the same day. SLT laser is used when angles are open and lowers eye pressure by stimulating cells inside the eye to clean the drain (trabecular meshwork). Iridotomy is used to help open narrow or closed angles by flattening the iris profile.

View Video

Glaucoma Surgery includes a number of surgical options that can help patients achieve additional eye pressure control. Some surgeries are minimally invasive and allow for relatively quick post-surgical recovery. When greater pressure lowering is required, a surgeon may recommend a more involved surgery and recovery can take weeks. Glaucoma surgery is tailored to each patient’s unique situation.

Glaucoma specialist with advanced training in glaucoma surgery can discuss these options with you and recommend the right one for you.

How Do I Get Started

You will need a referral from an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist to see one of our glaucoma specialists. Once we receive the referral, the Prism team will contact you to set up an appointment for preliminary testing followed by a consultation with your doctors. You will be asked for an email address as well as your preferred pharmacy. These are important for your care journey at Prism.

You will be scheduled for testing prior to seeing the doctor. This testing helps your doctor to plan your treatment and counsel you on the various options so that you can choose the best fit for your eye and your needs. Some of the recommended tests are optional and not covered by OHIP. Prism will provide you with information about their purpose, an itemized invoice and a consent explaining their optional nature.

After checking in at the front desk, you will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire. After this, a technician will take a medical history and perform some preliminary tests that could include visual acuity, intraocular pressure and they will often instill dilating drops (these can blur vision for several hours and it is helpful to bring a driver). Your ophthalmologist and their team of associates will examine your eyes and discuss the treatment options that are right for you.