Find an Optometrist
G-Screen is an educational awareness tool that can help you understand your glaucoma risk profile. But only a qualified eye care professional can properly assess and diagnose glaucoma. Here's why seeing an optometrist matters and what to expect.
Why regular eye exams matter
Glaucoma is often called the "silent thief of sight" because it typically causes no symptoms until significant, irreversible vision loss has already occurred. By the time you notice changes to your peripheral vision, the damage cannot be undone.
The only way to detect glaucoma early is through a comprehensive eye examination. Optometrists are trained to identify the earliest signs of glaucoma, often years before you would notice anything yourself. The Australian government recommends eye exams every two years for adults, and more frequently if you have risk factors such as family history, age over 50, or African or Asian heritage.
Early detection is key. When glaucoma is caught early, treatment can halt or significantly slow progression and preserve your remaining vision. Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored.
What happens at a glaucoma eye exam
If you've never had a comprehensive eye exam or haven't been in a while, it's natural to feel uncertain about the process. Here's what a thorough glaucoma assessment typically involves.
Your optometrist measures the pressure inside your eye, known as intraocular pressure (IOP). This is typically done with a small puff of air or a gentle instrument that briefly touches the surface of the eye after numbing drops are applied. Elevated IOP is one of the most significant modifiable risk factors for glaucoma, though it's worth knowing that some people develop glaucoma with normal pressure.
Using a special magnifying lens and a bright light, your optometrist examines the optic nerve at the back of your eye. In glaucoma, the optic nerve develops a characteristic pattern of damage called "cupping." Your optometrist may use dilating drops to widen your pupils and get a better view. Dilation is painless but temporarily makes your vision blurry and sensitive to light for a few hours.
This test maps your peripheral (side) vision. You look at a central point and press a button whenever you see a small flash of light appear in your side vision. Glaucoma typically causes peripheral vision loss first, which can go unnoticed in daily life. This is similar to the visual field component used by G-Screen, which is powered by Melbourne Rapid Fields (MRF) technology.
OCT is a non-invasive scan that produces detailed cross-sectional images of the retinal nerve fibre layer at the back of your eye. It can detect structural thinning caused by glaucoma, sometimes even before visual field loss is measurable. The scan takes just a few seconds, is completely painless, and doesn't require any contact with your eye.
A comprehensive glaucoma assessment is painless and typically takes 20 to 30 minutes as part of a routine eye exam. Most Australians are eligible for a Medicare-rebated eye exam every two years, or annually if you have a diagnosed condition or significant risk factors.
Don't wait for symptoms
Most people with early glaucoma feel perfectly fine. They have no pain, no redness, and don't notice any change in their vision. By the time peripheral vision loss becomes apparent in daily life, a significant amount of irreversible damage has typically occurred.
Regular eye exams are the only reliable way to catch glaucoma early. If you have risk factors such as family history, age over 50, African or Asian heritage, diabetes, or high myopia, your optometrist may recommend more frequent monitoring.
How to find an optometrist
If you're in Australia, you can find a registered optometrist near you through Optometry Australia's directory.
Glaucoma support and resources
For patient education, support services, and further information about living with glaucoma.
Already done your G-Screen check? Take your results to your optometrist. While G-Screen is an awareness tool and not a diagnosis, your results can be a useful conversation starter with your eye care professional about your glaucoma risk factors.