How is glaucoma detected?
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Glaucoma is detected through a comprehensive eye exam that includes:
- Visual acuity test. This eye-chart test measures how well you see at various distances.
- Visual field test. This test measures your side (peripheral) vision. It helps your eye care professional tell if you have lost side vision, a sign of glaucoma.
- 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.
- 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.
- Tonometry. An instrument measures the pressure inside the eye. Numbing drops may be applied to your eye for this test.
A tonometer measures the pressure inside the eye to detect glaucoma.