Glaucoma refers to a group of certain eye conditions that would cause damage to the optic nerve. This subsequently affects eye health and reduce overall vision. Glaucoma is one of the main causes of blindness in the world, especially in elderly people. It would happen at any age group but is more prevalent in those who are over 60 years old. Read on this article to learn more about glaucoma diagnosis and treatment options.
Glaucoma Diagnosis
A comprehensive eye exam is necessary to diagnose glaucoma. The main goal is to look for possible symptoms of deterioration and vision loss. One of the following procedures can be used:
– Medical history
The doctor needs to know exactly which symptoms and signs you experienced. Also, make sure to inform any family or personal history of glaucoma. A general health assessment is needed as well to know other health conditions with a close link to this eye issue, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
– Tonometry
A common test to diagnose glaucoma is tonometry. It uses a tonometer to measure intra-ocular or eye pressure.
– Perimetry
Also known as a visual field test, it measures the central and peripheral vision to find out whether the condition affects these aspects.
– Gonioscopy
This test looks at the eye’s angle to find out whether it is closed or open.
– Pachymetry
Those with thin corneas are often at a higher risk of glaucoma. This test can check to know whether the corneas are thin or not. [1]
