Glaucoma

The most common test used to detect glaucoma is tonometry. Tonometry is a procedure that allows us to check the intraocular pressure—or eye pressure—in your eye using different methods. Have you ever had an eye care professional ask you to keep your eye open for a brief puff of air to be directed at your eye? This is the most common tonometry procedure.

At Bright Eyes Family Eyecare, we use a method to check eye pressure called the Icare. Icare doesn’t rely on drops or puffs of air. Instead, this device uses a tiny probe to lightly bounce off the surface of the eye to check the pressure. It may feel like a slight tickle but is minimally invasive. Since some people with glaucoma may tend to have normal eye pressure readings, Dr. Womack may also choose to dilate or perform further testing if symptoms are present.

Early detection of glaucoma can help prevent permanent damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma, if left untreated, can lead to blindness and is the second most common cause of blindness in the US.