Case Study 1 — The importance of regular eye check up

A pleasant young man was recommended by his mother to come for an eye check up with us recently. He had been seen within the last 3 years by another optometrist and has only a mild distance vision problem that he uses glasses for.

​The reason for his eye test was his concerns about some lid bumps and styes that he had seen his GP about several months ago but had still not been resolved with antibiotics that he was prescribed with. He had not noticed any vision changes and was still happy with his current glasses for driving.

A comprehensive eye examination was carried out in our clinic, checking his vision, glasses prescription, thoroughly examining the front of his eyes in regards to the lid lumps and also a general eye health check. What was an entirely unexpected finding — and completely unrelated to his presenting issue — was his high eye pressures and potential changes to his optic nerves, indicative of early glaucoma. A visual field test — examining his peripheral (side) vision, which is implicated in glaucoma — thankfully did not detect any vision loss.

He was promptly referred to a local ophthalmologist (eye specialist) who confirmed the glaucoma diagnosis and was treated with pressure-lowering glaucoma eye drops. By reducing his eye pressures to a lower and safer level, the risk of further long-term optic nerve damage and associated loss of peripheral vision is reduced. We will continue to monitor his eye health, eye pressures and vision for changes.

​What this case highlights is the importance of regular comprehensive eye tests for all. Everyone should be tested at least every 2 years regardless of whether one feels there is any change in eyesight or wears glasses or not. People over the age of 60, or has a family history of eye disease or additional general health risk factors such as diabetes, should be tested annually.

​Many eye conditions can develop without necessarily causing vision symptoms. For this young man — only in his early 40s (much younger than a typical glaucoma patient) — it was fortunate, in a sense, that because of his eyelid bumps that he came to see us for an eye examination. Otherwise he may not have had another eye check up for some time, and his high eye pressures could have led to some losses in his peripheral vision by that time.

Eye care is much more than about glasses. If you haven't had your eyes checked for a while, book a comprehensive eye examination to ensure your eyes are healthy. And if you have any eye related concerns, see your friendly local optometrist right away — while GPs are fantastic at what they do for your general health, an optometrist is better placed to look at your eyes with our advanced eye diagnostic equipment.

​Comprehensive eye health checks here at Eyecare Concepts are bulk billed, so there are no out of pocket costs to you. Early detection is key to preventing vision loss.

Glaucoma causes optic nerve damage, typically from high eye pressures.

Case study published with patient's consent.

EYECARE CONCEPTS
YOUR LOCAL EYE HEALTH EXPERT — KEW EAST, MELBOURNE