Glaucoma Detection & Screening
The only way to stop vision loss from glaucoma is early detection and timely glaucoma treatment. Schedule regular visits with an eye doctor to monitor the eye disease, maintain proper eye care and discuss the best glaucoma therapy suitable for you.
There are several effective ways to detect glaucoma:
- Visual field test – detects whether side (peripheral) vision is lost, which is a sign of glaucoma.
- Dilated eye exam – allows your eye doctor to examine whether your optic nerve is damaged.
- Tonometry – gauges your eye pressure (intraocular pressure).
- Pachymetry – measures the thickness of your cornea with the help of ultrasonic wave.
A contrast sensitivity test can prove very useful as well, as contrast sensitivity can be used to evaluate two areas of glaucoma. Data now shows that prior to treatment, glaucoma patients exhibit abnormal contrast sensitivity and this abnormality can be used to assess the presence or progression of the disease. Following treatment, a majority of the patients show clinically significant improvements in contrast sensitivity. Contrast sensitivity can be used to evaluate the response to the initiation of or changes to treatment. Read more about contrast sensitivity and glaucoma.
Currently, there is no cure for glaucoma. However, research is being done to find it. In the meantime, effective treatments, such as glaucoma laser eye surgery and glaucoma eye drops, are available to stop the progression of the eye disease and vision loss.
No matter which form of glaucoma you have, prescribed treatment will aim to decrease fluid production or increase fluid drainage, ensuring that they are at the same rate. Glaucoma is corrected by glaucoma surgery, glaucoma medication or a combination of both.
Need More Glaucoma Info?
For in-depth information on glaucoma, please visit the Consumer Guide to Glaucoma.