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Rockyview Health Centre, 1011 Glenmore Trail SW Building #1 Suite 423, Calgary, AB T2V 4R6, Canada
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What Tests Are Used to Detect Glaucoma?

What Tests Are Used to Detect Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease that sneaks up on you silently. You might not feel any pain or notice any symptoms until real damage happens. That’s why tests for glaucoma are so important. Early detection of glaucoma can stop the disease before it causes vision loss. Your eye doctor uses several different tests to check for glaucoma. These tests measure the pressure inside your eye and look at your optic nerve. If caught early, glaucoma can be controlled with medicine or other treatments. When you visit an optometrist near you for an eye exam, ask about glaucoma testing to make sure your eyes stay healthy.

Understanding Glaucoma

Glaucoma happens when pressure builds up inside your eye. This pressure damages the optic nerve—the nerve that carries images to your brain. When the optic nerve gets damaged, you start losing vision slowly. The scary part is that you usually don’t notice anything wrong at first. By the time you realize you can’t see as well, serious damage has already happened. Many people don’t know they have glaucoma until they’ve lost a lot of vision. That’s why testing and early detection matter so much.

Different Tests That Detect Glaucoma

Glaucoma testing in SW Calgary and everywhere else uses several tests to catch this disease early.

Tonometry—The Pressure Test

The most basic glaucoma test measures the pressure inside your eye. This test is called tonometry. Your eye doctor puts numbing drops in your eye so you won’t feel anything. Then they use a special instrument that gently touches your eye and measures the pressure. Some machines blow a small puff of air at your eye instead of touching it. Normal eye pressure is between 12 and 21. If your pressure is higher, you might have glaucoma. This is the most common screening test.

Ophthalmoscopy—Looking at Your Optic Nerve

Your eye doctor looks directly at your optic nerve using a special light and magnifying lens. They’re looking at the shape and color of the nerve. A healthy optic nerve looks different from a damaged one. Glaucoma damage creates a cup shape in the center of the nerve. This test helps your doctor see if the nerve has already been hurt by pressure.

Visual Field Test

This test checks whether glaucoma has impaired your side vision. You sit on a chair in front of a machine with a glowing point in the centre while lights flash. You press a button when you see a light. The machine makes a map of what you can and cannot see. Usually, the side vision is first damaged in glaucoma. This test detects that damage.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

This fancy machine takes detailed pictures of your optic nerve and the nerve fibre layer. Think of it like taking an X-ray of your eye nerve. The pictures show exactly how thick the nerve layer is. If glaucoma is damaging your nerve, the layer gets thinner. This test catches very early damage that you can’t see any other way.

Getting Glaucoma Testing Near You

Glaucoma testing near you is available at any eye doctor’s office. An optometrist in SW Calgary can perform all these tests in one appointment. Most regular eye exams include at least basic glaucoma screening. If you have risk factors like family history, high eye pressure, or older age, your eye doctor might do more extensive testing.

Why Early Testing Saves Your Vision

The big difference between glaucoma that’s caught early and glaucoma that’s caught late is vision. Damage from glaucoma can’t be reversed. But if you catch it early, you can stop it from getting worse. Medicine, laser treatment, or surgery can control the pressure and protect your remaining vision. Waiting until you notice vision loss means permanent damage has already happened.

Protect Your Vision With Regular Testing

Eyedeology Optometry understands how important your vision is. Our experienced optometrists perform thorough glaucoma testing and screening to catch this disease early. We explain each test and answer all your questions. We create treatment plans to protect your vision. If you haven’t had glaucoma testing recently, call us today. Let’s make sure your eyes are healthy, and your vision is protected.

Get directions to Eyedeology Optometry and visit our clinic in SW Calgary for glaucoma testing and comprehensive eye care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tests can indicate that a person has glaucoma?

Eye doctors examine eye pressure, optic nerve health, side vision, and nerve damage by doing tonometry, ophthalmoscopy, visual field, and OCT tests, respectively.

How often should I have a glaucoma test?

People with normal eye pressure should have glaucoma testing at least once a year—people with risk factors need testing more often.

Can glaucoma be detected during a regular eye exam?

Yes, basic glaucoma screening with eye pressure testing and optic nerve examination happens during most regular eye exams.

What happens during a glaucoma screening?

Your eye doctor measures your eye pressure, examines your optic nerve with lights and magnification, and might do additional tests like visual field or OCT imaging.

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Supporting Ocular Surface Healing and Comfort

The membrane contains natural growth factors and anti-inflammatory properties. When placed over the cornea, it acts as a protective layer that supports healing and may help reduce inflammation.

Potential Benefits

  • Supports Healing: Helps promote natural healing of the eye’s surface.
  • Reduces Inflammation: Its natural properties may help calm inflammation.
  • Improves Comfort: May help relieve discomfort related to dry eye.
  • Supports Recovery: Helps support the healing of the ocular surface.

Who May Benefit?

Amniotic Membrane Therapy may be suitable for people with moderate to severe dry eye, particularly when conventional treatments have not provided enough relief. An eye care professional can assess your eyes and determine if this treatment is appropriate.

How Does It Work?

The amniotic membrane is the innermost layer of the placenta and contains growth factors and anti-inflammatory properties. During treatment, a specially prepared membrane is placed over the eye’s surface to act as a biological covering and support healing.

What to Expect

Before treatment, your optometrist will examine your eyes and determine whether Amniotic Membrane Therapy is suitable for you.

  • Before Treatment: The eye is numbed with topical anesthetic drops, and the area is prepared.
  • Membrane Placement: The preserved and sterilized membrane is placed over the cornea.
  • After Placement: A special contact lens may be used to hold the membrane in place.
  • Post-Treatment Care: Antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eye drops may be prescribed when needed.
  • Follow-Up: Regular visits help monitor healing and the membrane’s absorption or integration.
Some patients may experience mild discomfort, a foreign body sensation, or temporary blurred vision after treatment. Improvement in symptoms may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the individual.

Understanding Dry Eye and Your Treatment Options

Dry eye can develop for several reasons, and understanding the underlying cause is an important part of managing symptoms. Our team can assess your eyes and help develop a management plan based on your individual needs.

Common Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye can affect both eyes and may cause different symptoms, including:

  • Stinging or Burning – A burning, stinging, or gritty feeling in the eyes.
  • Eye Redness – Red or irritated eyes.
  • Light Sensitivity – Increased sensitivity to light.
  • Excessive Watering – Eyes that water more than usual.
  • Blurred Vision or Eye Fatigue – Blurry vision or tired, strained eyes.
  • Foreign Body Sensation – A feeling that something is in your eye.

What Causes Dry Eye?

A healthy tear film has several components that work together to keep the surface of the eye comfortable and protected. Dry eye can occur when tear production decreases or when tears evaporate too quickly.

Several factors may contribute to dry eye, including:

  • Aging
  • Allergies
  • Hormonal changes
  • Eyelid problems
  • Gland dysfunction
  • Certain health conditions
  • Living in a dry climate
  • Extended screen time

One common factor is blockage of the Meibomian glands, which produce the lipid layer of the tear film. When these glands are not functioning properly, tear evaporation can increase and contribute to dry eye symptoms.

A Personalized Approach to Dry Eye Management

Managing dry eye involves more than simply using eye drops. Our team can help develop a personalized plan that may include targeted in-office treatments, nutritional guidance, and home care based on your needs. 

Home care may include:

  • Warm Compresses: Used as part of a regular eye-care routine.
  • Lid Hygiene: Keeping the eyelids and surrounding area clean.
  • Artificial Tears: May be recommended to help manage dryness and discomfort.

In-Office Treatment Options

For patients with more severe dry eye symptoms, targeted in-office treatments may be considered. Available options include:

  • Radiofrequency
  • Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)
  • LipiFlow Therapy

These treatments may be used as part of dry eye management for symptoms such as burning, itching, redness, and irritation. The appropriate approach depends on the underlying factors contributing to your symptoms.

Managing Your Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye can have several contributing factors, so treatment is not the same for everyone. A thorough assessment can help identify factors affecting your tear film and determine which management options may be appropriate.

If you are experiencing persistent dryness, irritation, redness, light sensitivity, or other symptoms, speak with our eye care team about your dry eye management options.

Deep Cleansing for Healthier Eyelids and Lashes

ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) is an in-office eyelid cleaning and debridement treatment developed by Zocular®. It is designed to clean the eyelids and lashes while helping address concerns associated with dry eye, blepharitis, and demodex.

The treatment uses a natural, okra-based gel to remove oil, debris, and residue from the eyelid margins and lashes. By improving eyelid hygiene, ZEST can help reduce the buildup that may contribute to irritation and inflammation around the eyes.

What Is ZEST?

ZEST works like a deep cleansing treatment for the eyelids and lashes. During the procedure, the okra-based gel is applied along the eyelid margins and lashes using a cotton swab. The gel is gently worked into a lather using circular motions before being rinsed away with saline solution.
The gel contains a refined extract of okra, an edible green seed pod. According to the provided product information, okra helps lift and clear oil, debris, and residue while being gentle around the eye area.

How Can ZEST Help?

Keeping the eyelids, eyelid margins, and lashes clean is an important part of eye hygiene. Buildup along the eyelid edges can contribute to symptoms such as itching, burning, gritty sensations, redness, and irritation.

ZEST is designed to address this buildup through thorough cleansing and debridement.

  • Removes Debris: Helps clear dirt, oil, and residue from the eyelid margins and lashes.
  • Supports Eyelid Hygiene: Provides a deeper cleansing treatment than routine eyelid cleaning.
    Addresses Demodex: The treatment is designed to help remove demodex mites and associated debris.
  • Helps Reduce Inflammation: Cleansing the eyelid area may help address buildup associated with irritation and inflammation.
  • Supports Dry Eye Care: ZEST may help relieve symptoms associated with dry eye and poor eyelid hygiene.

ZEST for Dry Eye, Blepharitis, and Demodex

Dry eye and blepharitis can be associated with inadequate eyelid hygiene. Debris along the eyelid margins can enter the tear film with blinking, potentially contributing to redness and irritation.

Demodex mites can also be present in the hair follicles around the eyelashes. According to the provided information, they may contribute to inflammation and dry eye symptoms by blocking the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes.

ZEST provides targeted cleansing of the eyelid margins and lashes to help remove this buildup and address demodex-related concerns.

A Simple In-Office Treatment

The ZEST procedure is performed in the office and involves applying the cleansing gel to the eyelid margins and lashes, working it into a lather, and then rinsing the area with saline solution. The treatment is designed to provide thorough eyelid and lash cleansing without requiring a lengthy procedure.

Is ZEST Right for You?

ZEST may be considered for patients experiencing symptoms associated with dry eye, blepharitis, demodex, or eyelid debris. An eye care professional can assess your symptoms and determine whether ZEST is appropriate for your eye care needs.
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