Eyes water during field test

[E853]

Hi. I'm new here and joined on behalf of my elderly father. He has had glaucoma for a few years and every time he is called for an eye test he goes to pieces.

His eyesight is fine - he can airplane spot and has no issues with any aspect of reading or distances.

His only issue is doing the field test as it makes his eyes run. This happened why I took him shooting a few weeks ago too.

Can anyone advise on what he or the optician can do to help? He really doesn't need the stress at 87.

Thanks

E853

[Cornwalleyes]

if it’s just a visual field check up he can ask to stop the test, so he can clear his eyes and then start again from the same place. I think we all strain our eyes so hard to do the test. If it’s for a driving licence VF then I’m not sure they will let you do that, but it’s worth asking.

[Helen_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

There are few things that could be causing your fathers eyes to be water. He needs to remember to continue to blink normally while doing the visual field test. If he doesn't his eyes will become dry and then tears are produced to compensate. As it is happening at other times too, it may be that his eyes are generally dry and artificial tears will help. These can be obtained over the counter at a pharmacy. It would be a good idea that he asks his eye specialist to see if the surface of his eyes are dry or his optician would also be able to advise.

I agree that he should be able to ask to stop the visual field test, for him to wipe his eyes. Usually if you press and hold down the button it will pause the test.

Blocked tear ducts can also cause eyes to water, as the tears have nowhere to escape.

[Turtle007]

The main Glaucoma UK website has advice and also a helpful leaflet you can download for him. The runny eyes are often due to a 'dry eye'. Go to glaucoma.uk/about-glaucoma/...

I've found that daily treating my eyes with a heat pad and using one of the thicker lubricant drop regularly really helps, and has also helped me do the visual fields tests more easily.