How is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
Glaucoma, especially the most common type called chronic open-angle glaucoma, often progresses silently without noticeable symptoms if the intraocular pressure is not extremely high. As a result, the disease is usually diagnosed in its advanced stages.
Glaucoma is often diagnosed incidentally during an eye examination conducted for other reasons, such as a routine eye exam or for simple complaints. Therefore, measuring intraocular pressure during eye examinations should not be overlooked.
In some patients, acute glaucoma crises occur, characterized by a sudden and severe increase in intraocular pressure. This can present with severe eye pain, headache, redness of the eye, nausea, and vomiting. Diagnosis in this case is straightforward, and urgent treatment is required.
The classical findings that eye doctors look for in diagnosing glaucoma include three main signs. The first is elevated intraocular pressure. Normally, intraocular pressure ranges from 10-20 mmHg. Pressures above 20 mmHg are often indicative of glaucoma; however, high intraocular pressure alone is not sufficient for diagnosis. Some eyes with normal pressure can still have glaucoma, and some eyes with pressures below 20 mmHg can have glaucoma. The second finding is damage to the optic nerve observed during a fundoscopic examination. The third finding is visual field defects that show damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma patients are monitored by evaluating intraocular pressure levels, the condition of the optic nerve, and visual fields. Treatment decisions, whether medical or surgical, are based on these findings.
Is Glaucoma a Treatable Disease?
Glaucoma is a treatable condition once diagnosed. However, if the disease is not diagnosed early and causes damage to the optic nerve, reducing vision, treatment can only help preserve the existing vision and cannot restore lost vision. Therefore, if glaucoma is caught early before vision loss or optic nerve damage occurs, it can be treated effectively and prevent vision loss.
