Question 1

What is glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can lead to damage to the eye’s optic nerve and result in blindness. 
 
Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma, affects about 3 million Americans (USA statistics); half of whom don’t know they have it. It has no symptoms at first, but over the years it can steal your sight.
 
With early treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss and blindness.
 
Photograph of healthy Optic Nerve & eye with Glaucoma:
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Watch this Video by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which explains Glaucoma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VtFBnexqm0

Want to learn more about Glaucoma?
 
Visit our informational page here.(undefined)
 
or Watch our Videos:
 
What is Glaucoma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3cxlw7SSBo

Treating Glaucoma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC8NpK_EFII

Sketch: Glaucoma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VONL_For7Is

Question 2

Who is at risk of glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

Some people have a higher than normal risk of getting glaucoma. This includes people who:
 • are over age 40
 • have family members with glaucoma
 • are of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage
 • have high eye pressure
 • are farsighted or nearsighted
 • have had an eye injury
 • use long-term steroid medications
 • have corneas that are thin in the center
 • have thinning of the optic nerve
 • have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation or other health problems affecting the whole body
 
What is Glaucoma? Watch our Video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3cxlw7SSBo

Question 3

What should I do if I am at risk?

Accepted Answer

It is necessary to speak with an ophthalmologist about the risks of getting glaucoma. People with more than one of these risk factors have an even higher risk of glaucoma and a treatment plan or monitoring plan will then need to be discussed accordingly.

Question 4

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

The only sure way to diagnose glaucoma is with a complete eye exam at your ophthalmologist. A glaucoma screening that only checks eye pressure is not enough to find glaucoma.

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Question 5

What does the complete eye exam entail?

Accepted Answer

This will take approximately 30 minutes. During a glaucoma exam, an ophthalmologist will:
 • measure your eye pressure
 • inspect your eye's drainage angle
 • examine your optic nerve for damage
 • test your peripheral (side) vision (perform a visual field test)
 • take a picture or computer measurement of your optic nerve which is important for follow-up purposes
 • measure the thickness of your cornea
 • measure the thickness of your optic nerve fibres (OCT test) to ascertain if the optic nerve fibres are getting thinner or damaged due to high pressure in your eyes

Question 6

How is glaucoma treated?

Accepted Answer

1. with drops
2. with laser
3. with surgery
After your examination, an ophthalmologist will know the level of the damage caused by glaucoma and which treatment option or combination of treatments is the best way to control glaucoma and prevent further damage of the optic nerve. 
 
Watch our Video on how Glaucoma is treated:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC8NpK_EFII

Question 7

How often should the complete eye exam be performed for glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

If you have a stable eye pressure, no change in optic nerve damage and stable visual field test you are advised to repeat your tests between four months and one year.
 
If you have increased eye pressure, despite being treated for it, as well as increased optic nerve damage and advanced visual field loss or damage, you should be checked every four months, until the progression of your glaucoma damage has stopped or slowed down.

Question 8

Is it covered by medical aid?

Accepted Answer

Most of your medical insurances / medical aids will provide funds to monitor glaucoma two times per year. 
 
Glaucoma is on the Prescribed Minimum Benefit list, which means that your medical aid is obliged to cover for the treatment and tests even if you do not have funds available on your medical aid account.

Question 9

How can I learn more about glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

Want to know more about Glaucoma?
 
Book a consulation with our associated ophthalmologist, Dr. Zoran Aleksichere.(https://www.eyesurgery.co.za/contact-us)
 
or Visit our informational page here.(https://www.eyesurgery.co.za/glaucoma)
 
or Watch our Videos:
 
What is Glaucoma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3cxlw7SSBo

Treating Glaucoma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC8NpK_EFII

Sketch: Glaucoma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VONL_For7Is

FAQs on Glaucoma Screening