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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What is the optic nerve and how does it relate to glaucoma?

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    Glaucoma
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    Glaucoma Australia

    Glaucoma Australia is the peak glaucoma awareness/education/support association in Australia.It is a national, not-for-profit registered charity dedicated to providing educational services to raise awareness about … View Profile

    The optic nerve is the nerve that carries information from the eye to the brain. The optic nerve is progressively damaged in glaucoma causing progressive (usually peripheral) visual loss.

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    Dr Colin Clement

    Ophthalmologist (Eye Specialist)

    The optic nerve is the communication between the eye and brain that relays information about vision to the visual cortex for processing. A good analogy is that of a fibre optic cable that contains thousands or millions of fibres, each capable of carrying information about vision and who work together to give the whole picture. Each of us have 2 optic nerves, one from each eye, that travel backwards towards the brain and meet at a point just below the brain after entering the skull.

    Glaucoma is a condition that affects the optic nerve. The process involves loss of nerve fibres (like the fibres in the fibre optic cable) that can ultimately lead to a reduction in vision. As with a fibre optic cable, when the loss of fibres through cracking or splitting cannot be repaired; the same is true with glaucoma. Any loss of nerve fibres due to glaucoma is generally irreversible.

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    Dr Harry Melides

    Optometrist

    Have been in private practice for 40 years and specialise in assessing eye diseases and giving professional advice regarding these conditions. With the installation of … View Profile

    Dont be foolled by A simple pressure test .!! Get fields  ,OCT and addtional testing for correct diagnossis ,we can tell a lot from New digital technology ,an OCT scan of the nerve head is mandatory  it will reveal loads of information .

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  • Dr Simon Easterbrook-Smith

    Health Professional

    My research interests include immunology and the mechanisms of amyloid formation. The latter has implications for people who are dealing with Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease … View Profile

    As a client, not a professional, I agree with Harry.

    I get a regular (once a year) check-up with a well-known optometry company to check that my glasses prescription is still valid.

    The optician there gives me an OCT scan during each consultation - his point is that it is best to pick up possible problems sooner rather than later.

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