What happens on my first visit?
At your first visit, please allow 2 hours for the entire examination to be completed.
Please bring the following information/items with you on your first visit:
- A list of your current medications
- If you are currently taking eye drops, bring the bottles with you.
- Your current eye glasses, even if you don’t use them, or a copy of your eyeglass prescription.
The technician will ask you some questions such as your past medical history and previous eye history including any previous surgeries, and then perform some initial testing including vision and visual field analysis. Your doctor will examine the front part of your eye, check your eye pressure, and look at the angle structures of the eye using a special lens. Your pupils will be dilated to take photographs of the optic nerve. Your doctor will complete the examination by checking your optic nerve and retina (back of the eye). All examination results will be reviewed with you. If treatment is needed, your doctor will discuss the various options with you.
Visual Field Testing
A visual field test is an important part of the glaucoma evaluation. It is used to determine if you have blind spots, known as scotomas, in your vision and where they are.
This is an automated examination of your peripheral (side) vision. One of the complications of glaucoma can be loss of peripheral vision. This test may show signs of damage before you become aware of it.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) provides high-resolution, cross-sectional images of your optic nerve, enabling early detection and precise monitoring of glaucoma.
These are computerized images of the back of your eye. Your eye may or may not require dilation to take these scans. These tests measure the size of the optic nerve, as well as the thickness of the layer of retinal tissue surrounding the optic nerve, known as the nerve fiber layer (NFL). Tracking this layer of the retina is used to defect early signs of glaucoma damage and is also utilized in monitoring for any changes over time.
Optic Disc Photography
These are color photographs of the back of the eye, specifically the optic nerve, which can be viewed in 3-dimensions by our doctors.
Your eyes will need to be dilated for this type of photograph. It is important to have these so that your optic nerves can be followed over time, as this is the structure that is damaged in glaucoma. By having these photographs, we can determine if any change has occurred by comparing them to the current appearance of your optic nerves.