Glaucoma : Symptoms and Diagnosis, Treatment

by National Institute on Aging

(Page 2 of 2)

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes. The most common type of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, has no symptoms at first. It causes no pain, and vision seems normal.

Without treatment, people with glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral, or side vision. They seem to be looking through a tunnel. Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.

Glaucoma is detected through a comprehensive eye exam that includes a visual acuity test, visual field test, dilated eye exam, tonometry, and pachymetry.

A visual acuity test uses an eye chart test to measure how well you see at various distances.

A visual field test measures your side or peripheral vision. It helps your eye care professional tell if you have lost side vision, a sign of glaucoma.

In a dilated eye exam, drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. Your eye care professional uses a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems. After the exam, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.

In tonometry, an instrument measures the pressure inside the eye. Numbing drops may be applied to your eye for this test.

With pachymetry, a numbing drop is applied to your eye. Your eye care professional uses an ultrasonic wave instrument to measure the thickness of your cornea.

Quiz

1. Which of the following is an early sign of open-angle glaucoma?

A. pain
B. redness of the eye
C. loss of central vision
D. none of the above

D is the correct answer. At first, open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms. It causes no pain. Vision seems normal.

2. Glaucoma is detected during a comprehensive eye exam that includes

A. a visual acuity test.
B. a dilated eye exam.
C. a visual field test.
D. all of the above.

D is the correct answer. Glaucoma is detected during a comprehensive eye exam that includes a visual acuity test, dilated eye exam, tonometry, pachymetry, and visual field test.

3. Glaucoma can occur in

A. one eye.
B. both eyes.
C. one or both eyes.

C is the correct answer. Glaucoma can occur in one or both eyes.

4. Without treatment, people with glaucoma will slowly lose their

A. peripheral, or side vision.
B. central vision.
C. both peripheral and central vision.

C is the correct answer. Without treatment, people with glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral, or side vision. They seem to be looking through a tunnel. Over time, central or straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.

Treatment

Although open-angle glaucoma cannot be cured, it can usually be controlled. While treatments may save remaining vision, they do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma.

The most common treatments for glaucoma are medication and surgery.

Medications for glaucoma may be either in the form of eye drops or pills. Some drugs reduce pressure by slowing the flow of fluid into the eye. Others help to improve fluid drainage.

For most people with glaucoma, regular use of medications will control the increased fluid pressure. But, these drugs may stop working over time. Or, they may cause side effects. If a problem occurs, the eye care professional may select other drugs, change the dose, or suggest other ways to deal with the problem.

Laser surgery is another treatment for glaucoma. During laser surgery, a strong beam of light is focused on the part of the anterior chamber where the fluid leaves the eye. This results in a series of small changes that makes it easier for fluid to exit the eye. Over time, the effect of laser surgery may wear off. Patients who have this form of surgery may need to keep taking glaucoma drugs.

Researchers are studying the causes of glaucoma and are looking for ways to improve its diagnosis and treatment. For instance, the National Eye Institute, or NEI, is funding a number of studies to find out what causes fluid pressure to increase in the eye.

By learning more about this process, doctors may be able to find the exact cause of the disease and better learn how to prevent and treat it. The NEI also supports clinical trials of new drugs and surgical techniques that show promise against glaucoma.

Studies have shown that the early detection and treatment of glaucoma, before it causes major vision loss, is the best way to control the disease. So, if you fall into one of the high-risk groups for the disease, make sure to have your eyes examined through dilated pupils at least every two years by an eye care professional.

Quiz

1. The most common treatments for glaucoma include all of the following except

A. medications.
B. laser surgery.
C. conventional surgery.
D. eye exercises.

D is the correct answer. Although open-angle glaucoma cannot be cured, it can usually be controlled with medications, laser surgery, or conventional surgery.

2. Glaucoma medications help

A. reduce pressure in the eye.
B. improve optic nerve health.
C. dilate the pupils.

A is the correct answer. Glaucoma drugs reduce pressure in the eye by slowing the flow of fluid into the eye.

3. Over time, the effect of laser surgery may

A. wear off.
B. get stronger.
C. cause dry eye.

A is the correct answer. Over time, the effect of laser surgery may wear off. Patients who have this form of surgery may need to keep taking glaucoma drugs.

4. The best way to control glaucoma is to

A. seek early detection and treatment.
B. avoid reading in dimly lit places.
C. take vitamin supplements.

A is the correct answer. Studies have shown that the early detection and treatment of glaucoma, before it causes major vision loss, is the best way to control the disease.

About the Author

www.nia.nih.gov
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.