Open-angle glaucoma; Chronic glaucoma; Closed-angle glaucoma; Congenital glaucoma; Angle closure glaucoma

OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

• Most people have NO symptoms until they begin to lose vision
• Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision (also called tunnel vision)

ANGLE-CLOSURE GLAUCOMA

• Symptoms may come and go at first, or steadily become worse
• Sudden, severe pain in one eye
• Decreased or cloudy vision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rainbow-like halos around lights
• Red eye
• Eye feels swollen

CONGENITAL GLAUCOMA

• Symptoms are usually noticed when the child is a few months old
• Cloudiness of the front of the eye
• Enlargement of one eye or both eyes
• Red eye
• Sensitivity to light
• Tearing

An eye exam may be used to diagnose glaucoma. The doctor will need to examine the inside of the eye by looking through the pupil, often while the pupil is dilated. The doctor will usually perform a complete eye exam.

Checking the intraocular pressure alone (tonometry) is not enough to diagnose glaucoma because eye pressure changes. Pressure in the eye is normal in about 25% of people with glaucoma. This is called normal-tension glaucoma. There are other problems that cause optic nerve damage.

Tests to diagnose glaucoma include:

• Gonioscopy (use of a special lens to see the outflow channels of the angle)
• Tonometry test to measure eye pressure
• Optic nerve imaging (photographs of the inside of the eye)
• Pupillary reflex response
• Retinal examination
• Slit lamp examination
• Visual acuity
• Visual field measurement

Images

Eye

Glaucoma

Glaucoma

Slit-lamp exam

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Glaucoma Treatment

Review Date: 08/06/2009
Reviewed By: Paul B. Griggs, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)