Glaucoma detection is one of the most important reasons why eye examinations should be performed. Glaucoma has been called the "sneaky thief of vision." Glaucoma undetected can cause total blindness.

The inner sensory lining  of the eye is the retina.  The retina is like the film in a camera. Images are transmitted through millions of microscopic nerve endings to the brain. These nerve endings shaped like rods and cones join to form some 1.2 million nerve fibers which bundle to become the optic nerve which transmits the images to the brain. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. Without treatment, the nerve degenerates over time with no way for messages to reach the brain.

Internal eye pressure which is too high and/or problems with blood vessels feeding the optic nerve are the main underlying causes of glaucoma.

Up until recently, high eye pressure was considered the primary way to detect glaucoma.
Research and clinical experience teaches us, however, that nearly 40% of patients with glaucoma have normal eye pressure! Passing a glaucoma screening that only tests for pressure with the air puff or other means is not complete enough to determine if glaucoma is present or if an individual is even at risk.

In addition to checking eye pressure, Dr. Teles uses the latest technology such as Zeiss Matrix Visual Field Test on all patients and the new "3-D" RETINAL THICKNESS ANALYZER (RTA) to examine the retina and optic nerve in great detail.

Anyone can develop glaucoma. Some people, however,  are at higher risk than others. They include:
African Americans over age 40. Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans. People with a family history of glaucoma.

A comprehensive dilated eye exam can reveal risk factors, such as high eye pressure, thinness of the cornea, abnormal optic nerve anatomy, and poor outflow of internal eye fluids.  In some people with certain combinations of these high-risk factors, medicines in the form of eye drops reduce the risk of developing glaucoma by about half.

Medicare covers an annual comprehensive dilated eye exam for some people at high risk for glaucoma.
Call Dr. Teles at 410-768-0202 for a free consultation or for an appointment for a comprehensive glaucoma evaluation.