Follow-up Appointments For Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition where increased pressure in your eye can damage the optic nerve, which connects your eye to your brain. If this damage progresses, it can lead to vision loss—often starting with your peripheral (side) vision and eventually affecting your central vision. Here’s why follow-up visits are essential:

• Monitoring Eye Pressure: Glaucoma is often called the "silent thief of sight" because it typically doesn't cause noticeable symptoms until damage is significant. During follow-up visits, we measure your intraocular pressure (the pressure inside your eye) to ensure it stays within a healthy range. If the pressure rises, adjustments to your treatment can prevent further damage.

• Checking for Disease Progression: Glaucoma can gradually worsen, even if you’re following your treatment plan. Regular visits allow us to detect any progression in the disease. We use tests like visual field assessments or optic nerve imaging to see if any additional damage has occurred since your last visit.

• Adjusting Treatment: Glaucoma treatments often involve medications (such as eye drops) or procedures that lower eye pressure. However, your treatment might need adjustments over time. For example, if eye pressure remains too high, we may need to change your medication or consider additional treatment options, such as laser therapy or surgery.

• Preventing Vision Loss: The goal of treating glaucoma is to slow or stop its progression. Without regular monitoring and treatment adjustments, the risk of permanent vision loss increases. By attending your follow-up appointments, we can help you preserve your vision for as long as possible.

• Managing Side Effects: If you're using medications for glaucoma, follow-up visits are also an opportunity to discuss any side effects you might be experiencing. We can make changes to your treatment plan to help minimize any discomfort or issues caused by the medications.