FAQs

We recommend that everyone should have a glaucoma test at the age of 45 and every 5 years after that. Often, people with a known family history of glaucoma will go sooner. Considering you don’t know your family history, it would be wise to have an eye health check with an optometrist now. After an initial check, your optometrist can advise how often to get repeat checks. The cost of checks varies – it might be a good idea to ring around to get an idea of prices.

Glaucoma screening is a complex matter – it’s never a case of ‘one size fits all’. We think we’ve set a realistic and achievable target with the ‘45 plus 5 glaucoma eye examination’. If everyone had an eye examination every five years between 45 and 60, people at higher risk of glaucoma would be identified and monitored more closely and an earlier diagnosis of glaucoma would be possible.

Glaucoma NZ places emphasis on understanding and assessing the risk factors of glaucoma when you have an eye examination. At your first eye check, your eye health professional will be able to assess your level of risk – such as the state of the optic disc, the shape of the angle, and the level of intraocular pressure – and establish how often you need to be examined.

Sometimes also referred to as eye specialists or ophthalmic surgeons, ophthalmologists are specialist medical practitioners. It’s a serious profession, and takes a minimum of 14 years of training to become one. To train as an eye surgeon, a doctor becomes a registrar in a hospital and a trainee of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists for a period of five years. After passing exams, a New Zealand trainee will go abroad for a few years to gain further experience in overseas centres where the caseloads and expertise differ to New Zealand.

Optometry is a university degree course of 5 years. During their studies, modern optometrists are taught how to diagnose and screen for common eye diseases, including glaucoma and diabetic eye disease. They prescribe and dispense glasses and contact lenses, and are often the first port of call for those with eye problems.

Unfortunately, at the moment there is no cure for glaucoma – damage to the optic nerve can’t be repaired. Glaucoma treatment is instead focused on preventing any further damage and sight loss. Your mother might have heard a discussion about advances in the treatment of another eye condition, like macular degeneration.

The answer is to help prevent the loss of vision from glaucoma. The exact cause of glaucoma is not known, but we know the age, family history and raised pressure in the eyes (intraocular pressure) are risk factors. Of these, only the eye pressure is modifiable, and lowering it slows the loss of peripheral, and then central, vision in glaucoma. Eye drops are the commonest and preferred way of achieving this.

In order to prevent visual loss, the pressure must be constantly controlled. The effect of each dose of drops lasts for only a limited time. If a drop is given four times a day, it is because the effect of the drop only lasts about 6 hours. If the drops are not continuously used the pressure will creep back up again

No. An undisturbed night is more important, but if prescribed for use three or more times daily, it is usually desirable to put them in last thing at night and as soon as you wake up in the morning.

All drops may cause some burning or stinging when instilled. Often, this effect is due not to the drug but to the antibacterial preservatives in the solution. It is rarely intolerable and can be used to advantage since it lets the patient know that the drop got into the eye. If you are experiencing a lot of discomfort you should report this to your eye specialist, as there may be different options for you.

It is probably best to allow five to ten minutes between drops to avoid one drop washing out the previous one. Ask your eye specialist for specific advice about the drops you are taking.