Glaucoma Care at Sault Vision Clinic P.C. – Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Glaucoma is a cluster of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve which can cause vision loss or blindness if not treated. There are no early symptoms, leading many to not realize anything is wrong until the damage is done. Individuals over the age of 60 or with a personal or family history of glaucoma should be particularly on the lookout. Early detection is possible with regular eye exams, and the NIH suggests complete eye exams every 1–2 years for individuals at risk.

At Sault Vision Clinic P.C. in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, we offer comprehensive glaucoma screening as part of our medical eye care. We urge anyone concerned about their eye health to schedule an exam because the sooner the condition is detected, the better we can preserve vision.

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Glaucoma Exams

At Sault Vision Clinic P.C., we begin glaucoma screening with a comprehensive eye health examination. While you are here, we conduct various tests to check your eye pressure and the function of your optic nerve.

Key components include:

1. Intraocular Pressure (IOP) Measurement: Using tonometry to check for elevated pressure inside the eye is a common glaucoma risk factor.
2. Visual Field Testing: Mapping your peripheral vision to check for gaps or blind spots that may signal optic nerve injury.
3. Dilated Eye Exam: Our doctors put drops in the eyes to dilate pupils, enabling them to examine the optic nerve and retina directly and assess their health.
4. Corneal Pachymetry: This critical diagnostic test measures the cornea's thickness to better ascertain eye pressure and improve gauging glaucoma risks.
5. Gonioscopy: If needed, this is an additional test to enable the eye care provider to view the eye's drainage angle (the space through which fluid leaves), which is useful in certain situations.
6. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): We employ state-of-the-art imaging equipment (the Carl Zeiss Meditec Cirrus HD-OCT) to take precise images, giving us high-resolution 3D images of the retina and optic nerve.

Each of these diagnostic tools helps build a complete picture of your eye health.

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Glaucoma Management and Follow-Up

If we detect glaucoma or elevated eye pressure, Sault Vision Clinic P.C. provides individualized attention to preserve your vision. This includes medication, as we might administer eye drops to reduce eye pressure, which can also help slow the disease progression. You'll have routine check-ups, usually every few months, where we repeat tests and imaging to see if anything has changed.

We also offer team care through collaboration with eye doctors for more specialized treatments, such as laser therapy or surgery, if needed. We will also review your test results with you and discuss how to use any prescribed medicines. Our doctors will determine the answer and discuss how healthy choices, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, can also benefit your eyes.

Early and consistent treatment can significantly reduce the risk of severe vision loss.

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Advanced Technology

Sault Vision Clinic P.C. invests in advanced diagnostic technology to improve patient outcomes.

For example:

• Essilor Visioffice® with EyeCode: This system captures 20 personalized parameters like eye rotation, head posture, and frame position. These measurements help select contact lenses, especially multifocal and specialty designs, by considering eye movement and lens alignment with the visual axis.
• Cirrus HD-OCT Imaging: The clinic's high-resolution OCT scanner records three-dimensional retina and optic nerve images. The team says This sophisticated tool may detect slight changes before vision loss, enabling earlier intervention and better long-term results. It also gives accurate measurements of nerve fiber layer thickness and anatomy of the optic nerve head, which helps in early diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma.

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Meet Our Experts

• Peter Merchand, O.D.: A Michigan College of Optometry graduate, Dr. Merchand is a member of the American and Michigan Optometric Associations. He provides comprehensive eye exams and educates patients about eye disease prevention.

• Emily Miszewski, O.D.: A Michigan College of Optometry graduate (following her undergraduate degree at Central Michigan University), Dr. Miszewski is dedicated to thorough health screenings. She and Dr. Merchand work to monitor each patient's eye health over time.

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Insurance & Payment

At Sault Vision Clinic P.C., we have various payment options and insurance plans.

• Payments: We accept cash, personal checks, and major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express).
• Insurance Plans: We support major vision insurance plans (such as VSP and EyeMed) and medical insurance carriers (including Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical, and most medical plans).

Because glaucoma is a medical condition, tests and treatments are generally billed through your medical insurance benefits rather than a routine vision plan.

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Schedule Your Glaucoma Screening

Protect your vision with early glaucoma screening at Sault Vision Clinic P.C.. Call our Sault Ste. Marie's office.