Glaucoma fields test - is it standard?

fiona-f

Hi everyone,

I know that medical advice cannot be given on this board and I hope my question does not fall into that category. Apologies if it does, please delete it.

I'm in my early 30s, I've been short-sighted for years and have been using the same optician (large chain) since I started college at 18. I have very strong family history of glaucoma - one grandparent suffered with it to the point of being legally blind, my mother, aunts and uncles all have developed it and one of my elder siblings is being treated for the early stages of it. Because of this, I am religious about getting a sight test once a year. My optician's general recommendation is once every two years; each time when I re-present myself after 12 months, I explain that it is because I am concerned about the glaucoma history. As PRSI only pays for a test once every two years, this obviously means I pay out of my own pocket every second time and the opticians have always been happy with this.

Now, recently, when discussing eye tests, my mother and siblings mentioned how they hate doing the 'black dot fields test' when at the opticians. I said that I had never heard of this. They were very surprised, almost alarmed that I had never had this test and explained that their opticians insist upon it each time given the history of glaucoma. I returned to my optician today and outlined my concerns. She reluctantly agreed to do the test for me, but said that it would not be routine until a patient was in their 40s. When I pressed her on this, she conceded that it was surprising given my family history that I hadn't had the test done before. She administered the fields test, and was quite concerned about a number of the results of it, I was missing quite a few fields and she has asked me to return at the weekend, early in the morning after a good night's sleep to repeat the test.

Obviously, this is quite worrying in itself (and I very much hope the repeat test shows a better result) but I am also quite angry that despite what I have outlined above, none of the various opticians in I have seen in the same firm over the last decade and a half have ever proposed this test to me, and that it was only performed with reluctance when I insisted. I am also worried that if the repeat test shows up problems, these may be less easy to treat than if they'd been diagnosed at an early stage.

I'd be grateful for the views of the people on this board about their experience, whether they are offered this eye test as standard, and whether I should seek a second opinion and/or change optician. Or am I simply over-reacting? Thanks.

Misticles

Fields test are not done as a part of a routine test- only done if requested by the optician.

The puff of air test is done and is associated with the pressure in the back of your eye- this is done as a standard- high pressures can cause concern regarding Glaucoma.

All in all- depending on what the optician see during the eye exam, its up to her/him to decide on the fields test.

Usually, where I work, if they patient has a strong family history, they will request that it be done, and repeated if nescessary.

Daisies

It's also highly unlikely to have glaucoma in your early 30s.
Looking at the health of the back of the eye is a more sensitive indicator of if there is any damage from glaucoma as there needs to be (now it's a while since I read these figures so they may be slightly off) approx 30% damage to have a field defect.
If there are a few points missing I wouldnt worry too much until the repeat test is done

fiona-f

Thanks for the replies, I guess I was probably over-reacting a bit yesterday. I think everyone has one health-related fear that they are terrified of, and mine is anything to do with losing my sight, so I was really stressed and alarmed when I was typing on here. Thanks so much for your help; fingers crossed all will be well when I re-do the test on Saturday.

I'm intrigued however by the inconsistencies in the tests offered by different opticians - for example my younger brother and I would both have the same family medical history; he has been offered this test for years in the place he goes to, I never had until yesterday. Misticles, can I check with you, where you said "Usually, where I work, if they patient has a strong family history, they will request that it be done, and repeated if nescessary." - I presume this means it is the optician who requests the test, not the patient? As obviously it's hard to request something you don't even know exists? Thanks for the clarification.

Misticles

Yep, the optician would request the test be done.

based on, family history, pressures and any concerns during the exam or as a precautionary measure.

Hawkeye007

Why don't you ask the Eye Surgeon?

http://www.laservision.ie/content/leftnav/ask-the-surgeon

Hawkeye007

Sorry, Should Read:

http://www.laservision.ie/content/leftnav/ask-the-eye-surgeon