Glaucoma

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Eye

Glaucoma

Slit-lamp exam

Visual field test

Open angle glaucoma; Chronic glaucoma; Closed angle glaucoma; Congenital glaucoma

OPEN ANGLE

• Most people have no symptoms
• Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision

ACUTE

• Severe eye pain , facial pain
• Decreased or cloudy vision
• Red eye
• Swelling of the eye
• Pupil does not react to light
• Nausea and vomiting (may be the major symptom in the elderly)

CONGENITAL

• Tearing
• Sensitivity to light
• Red eye
• Enlargement of one eye or both eyes
• Cloudiness of the front of the eye

An examination of the eye may be used to diagnose glaucoma. However, checking the intraocular pressure alone (tonometry) is insufficient because eye pressure changes. Examination of the inside of the eye by looking through the pupil, often while the pupil is dilated, is needed.

Usually a complete examination of the eyes will be done.

Tests may include:

• Retinal examination
• Intraocular pressure measurement by tonometry
• Visual field measurement
• Visual acuity
• Refraction
• Pupillary reflex response
• Slit lamp examination
• Optic nerve imaging (photographs of the interior of the eye)
• Gonioscopy- use of a special lens to see the outflow channels of the angle

Review Date: 11/14/2005
Reviewed By: Edward B. Feinberg, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.