What is glaucoma? Most people I speak with have heard of glaucoma, but not many know what it is. Glaucoma is a group of progressive diseases affecting the optic nerve, which is the cable linking the eye to the brain. It is one of the leading causes of blindness, affecting about 300,000 people in Australia. There are many different types of glaucoma, but the most common type is called primary open angle glaucoma. In this case, the vision is damaged so gradually that it is hard to detect without special testing. For this reason, glaucoma is sometimes called the sneak thief of sight. Glaucoma can be treated, but usually to only slow or stop progression, not to repair damage. For this reason, early detection of glaucoma is vitally important. We treat glaucoma by lowering the pressure of the eye. I screen every patient I see for glaucoma, checking the optic nerve, eye pressure and asking about family history. Then if required, extra testing of peripheral vision and CT scanning of the optic nerves are performed. Tony Ireland Evolve Optometry Shop G03, Village Centre, Batemans Bay | 4472 8080 www.evolveoptometry.com.au evolve OPTOMETRY AW7405446 What is glaucoma ? Most people I speak with have heard of glaucoma , but not many know what it is . Glaucoma is a group of progressive diseases affecting the optic nerve , which is the cable linking the eye to the brain . It is one of the leading causes of blindness , affecting about 300,000 people in Australia . There are many different types of glaucoma , but the most common type is called primary open angle glaucoma . In this case , the vision is damaged so gradually that it is hard to detect without special testing . For this reason , glaucoma is sometimes called the sneak thief of sight . Glaucoma can be treated , but usually to only slow or stop progression , not to repair damage . For this reason , early detection of glaucoma is vitally important . We treat glaucoma by lowering the pressure of the eye . I screen every patient I see for glaucoma , checking the optic nerve , eye pressure and asking about family history . Then if required , extra testing of peripheral vision and CT scanning of the optic nerves are performed . Tony Ireland Evolve Optometry Shop G03 , Village Centre , Batemans Bay | 4472 8080 www.evolveoptometry.com.au evolve OPTOMETRY AW7405446