Vision Care » Glaucoma Diagnosis http://www.twodocs.com/vision-care Guide to eye diseases prevention and treatments. Tue, 01 Feb 2011 04:15:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 Glaucoma Diagnosishttp://www.twodocs.com/vision-care/eye-diseases/glaucoma-diagnosis http://www.twodocs.com/vision-care/eye-diseases/glaucoma-diagnosis#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:14:04 +0000 admin http://www.twodocs.com/vision-care/?p=116
  • Glaucoma
  • Glaucoma Causes and Symptoms
  • Macular Degeneration Diagnosis
    • ]]>     The initial glaucoma diagnosis is made through an eye examination by an optometrist (O.D.) or ophthalmologist (M.D.). The examination begins with an ophthalmic assistant, technician, or scribe gathering patient information, including any family history of glaucoma. Then the ophthalmic assistant takes a reading of the patient’s intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP is measured with an instrument called a tonometer, using a technique called applanation tonometry. The test is performed after anesthetic drops are administered to the eye. The anesthetic allows the examiner to touch the patient’s eyeball without causing discomfort for the patient. Another type of tonometry called noncontact applanation shoots a puff of air into the patient’s eye. This is slightly less accurate than applanation tonometry.

    Next, an O.D., M.D., or skilled ophthalmic assistant uses an ophthalmoscope (a hand-held instrument with a light source) to examine the optic nerve, retina, and back of the eye. Other types of lenses may also be used to examine the back of the eye. A slit lamp (biomicroscope) allows the physician or assistant examine the cornea, iris, and lens.

    Visual field tests (perimetry), performed by an O.D., M.D., or ophthalmic assistant, can detect blind spots in a patient’s field of vision before the patient is aware of them. Certain defects may indicate glaucoma.

    Another test, gonioscopy, is used to distinguish between narrow-angle and open-angle glaucoma. A gonioscopy lens, which is a hand-held contact lens with a mirror, allows visualization of the angle between the iris and the cornea.

    Physicians may also perform a nerve fiber layer assessment which can show early damage to the eye. Fundus photography or stereoscopic photography through a dilated pupil may also be performed by an O.D., M.D., or ophthalmic assistant to document the appearance of the optic nerve so that changes may be detected on subsequent examinations.

    Blood pressure also is monitored, as some prescribed treatments may raise pressure and heart rate.

    Intraocular pressure can vary throughout the day. For that reason, patients should schedule several return visits to measure the IOP at different times of day. This yields the most accurate diagnosis.

    Related posts:

    1. Glaucoma
    2. Glaucoma Causes and Symptoms
    3. Macular Degeneration Diagnosis

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