How is glaucoma detected?

High pressure puts you at risk for glaucoma. But high pressure alone does not mean that you have glaucoma. Whether or not one develops glaucoma depends on the level of pressure that the persons optic nerve can tolerate without being damaged. This level varies from person to person. Infact even with pressure within the normal range of 12-21 mm Hg a person can develop glaucoma.

To detect glaucoma your doctor will do the following tests:

• Record your vision

• Pupil dilation and evaluation of the inside of the eye. This is done after dilating or widening the pupils. After examination the vision may remain blurred for several hours.

• Measure the pressure inside the eye by gently touching the eye with an instrument

Treatment can often control glaucoma. This makes early diagnosis and treatment important to protect your sight. You will need to use the drops and pills as long as they help to control your eye pressure. This is very important because glaucoma often has no symptoms; people maybe tempted to stop or may forget to take their medicine.

Once diagnosed with glaucoma medicines must be taken according to doctors instructions and pressure and field must be monitored closely.