Glaucoma Treatment in Fort St. John & Dawson Creek

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Protect Yourself From the “Silent Thief of Sight”

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that affect the optic nerve and causes significant vision loss. As we get older, the risk of developing glaucoma increases, so it is essential to regularly attend eye exams to pinpoint the early signs of this disease.

At Northern Vision Care, our comprehensive eye exams are detailed and thorough to ensure we detect any early signs of glaucoma. The earlier an eye disease is diagnosed, the earlier treatment can begin, protecting and preserving your vision for as long as possible.

If you would like to book an appointment, we would love to hear from you! Please give us a call or use our online form to request an appointment at your convenience.

Types of Glaucoma

Open-Angle Glaucoma

The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma occurs when the eye’s drainage angle is too narrow, making it difficult for fluid to drain correctly. If the fluid inside the eye cannot drain fast enough, the eye’s internal pressure will rise, putting stress on the optic nerve. The pressure on the optic nerve often leads to significant damage and subsequent vision loss.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma is less common but much more severe. This type of glaucoma occurs when the eye’s drainage angle becomes suddenly blocked by the iris’s outer edge. With fluid unable to drain, it will build up rapidly, causing a drastic increase in intraocular pressure. Without prompt treatment, angle-closure glaucoma can lead to permanent blindness.

Angle-closure glaucoma is considered a medical emergency. If you experience symptoms of this type of glaucoma, go to your nearest emergency room as soon as possible.

Symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma include:

  • Intense pain
  • Nausea
  • Extremely red eyes
  • Blurred or distorted vision
  • Halos

Normal-Tension Glaucoma

In the eye care world, normal-tension glaucoma is considered a medical mystery. This type of glaucoma is a type of open-angle glaucoma that occurs when the eye’s internal pressure stays within the normal range, but damage to the optic nerve still occurs.

You may be at a higher risk of developing normal-tension glaucoma if you:

  • Are of Japanese heritage
  • Have a family history of normal-tension glaucoma
  • Have heart problems, like an irregular heartbeat
  • Have low blood pressure

Detecting & Diagnosing Glaucoma

At Northern Vision Care, we use state-of-the-art technology to assist us in protecting and preserving your vision. Tonometry is a diagnostic tool we utilize to measure your eyes’ internal pressure, a telltale sign characteristic of glaucoma. The types of tonometry we use include:

Non-contact tonometry uses a small puff of air (sometimes called the “puff test”) to measure your intraocular pressure. The air puff flattens a part of your cornea and calculates how much force is necessary to do so. Non-contact tonometry is non-invasive and does not require numbing drops before the test.

Goldmann Applanation Tonometry is another way to measure your eyes’ internal pressure. The device combines a slit lamp equipped with forehead and chin supports for you to rest on. A small flat-tipped cone will then momentarily flatten a part of your cornea to measure your internal eye pressure. You will need numbing eye drops for Goldmann Applanation Tonometry to ensure the test is comfortable.

Book Your Appointment Today!

If you would like to have your eyes examined for early signs of glaucoma or other eye diseases, we would be happy to help. Please give us a call or use our online form to request an appointment at your convenience.

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Our Locations

Fort St. John

Contact Information

Address

9808-101st Avenue
Fort St. John, BC V1J 2B2

Our Hours

Monday
8 AM5 PM
Tuesday
8 AM5 PM
Wednesday
8 AM5 PM
Thursday
8 AM5 PM
Friday
8 AM5 PM

Dawson Creek

Contact Information

Address

1017-103rd Avenue
Dawson Creek, BC V1G 2G6

Our Hours

Monday
9 AM5 PM
Tuesday
9 AM5 PM
Wednesday
9 AM5 PM
Thursday
9 AM5 PM
Friday
9 AM5 PM

*Closed from 12 pm to 1 pm daily.

Contact Information

Address

9808-101st Avenue
Fort St. John, BC V1J 2B2

Contact Information

Address

1017-103rd Avenue
Dawson Creek, BC V1G 2G6

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