Catch Glaucoma Early

Glaucoma has earned the nickname “the silent thief of sight” because it develops with no obvious symptoms before causing irreversible vision loss.

Regular eye exams at least every 2 years—annually if you’re at a higher risk for eye diseases—are crucial for ensuring early detection and treatment of glaucoma to protect your vision.

Protect your eyes with an eye exam at Headwaters Optometry. Call us today to book your appointment.

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What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease affecting the optic nerve, which transmits information between each of your eyes and your brain.

In the most common form of glaucoma, called open-angle glaucoma, the fluid in the eyes is unable to drain properly. This can cause an increase in pressure inside the eye (called intraocular pressure or IOP). That increase in pressure results in damage to the optic nerve.

Though it begins without symptoms, eventually glaucoma leads to blind spots and then further vision loss.

Glaucoma Starts with No Symptoms

It’s possible to have glaucoma without knowing it because it often begins without any symptoms. The first symptom you may notice is typically peripheral vision loss followed by central vision loss.

Unfortunately, once glaucoma causes vision loss, it’s not possible to restore it. This is why regular eye exams are so important.

Who Is at Risk for Glaucoma?

Sharing your health history with your eye doctor is an important part of assessing your risk for glaucoma. These risk factors include:

A family history of glaucoma
Being over 40
Asian, African, or Hispanic heritage
High eye pressure
Past eye injury
Long-term use of steroid medication
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Other health problems including poor circulation

How Is Glaucoma Treated?

Glaucoma can be treated with medication or surgery. The first line of therapy is lowering IOP and improving blood flow to the optic nerve using a daily topical medication (eye drops).

Laser surgery may be performed to improve pressure control. Other surgical procedures may be required to dramatically lower IOP in cases of severe glaucoma.

Your optometrist can counsel you on the best options for your particular health concerns. They’ll schedule regular appointments with you to support you and monitor the progression of your glaucoma.

Early Detection of Glaucoma

We use advanced optical coherence tomography (OCT) to determine if certain layers of your retina are thinning due to glaucoma. This allows us to identify glaucoma as early as 2–3 years before you notice any loss in your field of vision.

With OCT, we can more accurately monitor the progression of existing glaucoma and properly treat it.

Our Location

You can find us just off Broadway and John in the little blue standalone building. We are your destination for optometry in Orangeville. Book your appointment today!