If you have been diagnosed with open angle glaucoma, your doctor will monitor you for development of glaucoma progression through  visual field testing, digital optic nerve photos and/or nerve fiber analysis on an annual basis.  Annual monitoring is recommended to assess for development of more high risk findings such as elevated intraocular pressure, peripheral vision loss, increased optic nerve cupping or abnormal retinal nerve fiber layer changes.

GLAUCOMA FACTS:

1. Glaucoma is a complicated disease in which damage to the optic nerve results in vision loss. There are typically no early warning signs or symptoms of open-angle glaucoma. It develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable sight loss for many years. 



2. Most people who have open-angle glaucoma feel fine and do not notice a change in their vision at first because the initial loss of vision is of side or peripheral vision, and the visual acuity or sharpness of vision is maintained until late in the disease. 



3. By the time a patient is aware of vision loss, the disease is usually quite advanced. Vision loss from glaucoma is NOT REVERSIBLE with treatment, even with surgery. Early detection and intervention is therefore crucial to prevent vision loss.



3. Because open-angle glaucoma has few warning signs or symptoms before damage has occurred, six to twelve month monitoring is recommended (depending on a patient's risk factors, such as: race, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and family history.



4. If you are being treated for glaucoma, be sure to take your glaucoma medicine every day. See your eye care professional every six to twelve months as recommended.

You also can help protect the vision of family members and friends who may be at high risk for glaucoma-African Americans over age 40; everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans; and people with a family history of the disease. Encourage them to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years. Remember that lowering eye pressure in the early stages of glaucoma slows progression of the disease and helps save vision.

Medicare covers an annual comprehensive dilated eye exam for some people at high risk for glaucoma. These people include those with diabetes, those with a family history of glaucoma, and African Americans age 50 and older.

For more information on glaucoma, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology website at : http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/glaucoma/