Table of Contents
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of glaucoma does not rely solely on the presence of pressure within the eye. Optic nerve damage or a strong suggestion of damage must also be present. This damage can be clearly seen during a dilated eye examination of the optic nerve. In general, the hallmark sign of this condition is a loss of peripheral vision. With peripheral vision loss, a person can see in front but has lost the vision to the side.
Because chronic glaucoma has no warning symptoms, half of patients are unaware they have the condition. Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment of glaucoma and prevention of blindness.
Recommendations for Glaucoma Screening
There has been debate about the relative benefits and risks of routine glaucoma screening in adults. Glaucoma screening in adults can help identify signs of increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and the early stages of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). However, treatment of IOP and early POAG can potentially result in harmful effects, such as eye irritation and increased risk for cataracts. Because of this uncertainty, the United States Preventive Services Task Force has not found sufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for glaucoma in adults.
In contrast, the American Academy of Ophthalmology strongly supports glaucoma screening, with the following specific recommendations:
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Review Date: 06/23/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
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)
