Glaucoma is a group of conditions resulting in optic nerve damage, which may lead to total blindness in advanced stages.
- Elevated intraocular pressure
- Alterations in the blood flow at the level of the optic nerve, even with normal intraocular pressure
- Side effects of medications, especially some types of cortisone drugs
- Toxic substances
- Chronic inflammatory conditions and infections
- Inherited alterations of the normal eye anatomy
- Certain types of cataracts, as well as cataracts in advanced stages
- Ocular trauma
- Because it is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide
- Because it often causes no symptoms until it is too late
- Because if it is discovered in early stages, treatment is simple and effective.
- Measurement of intraocular pressure (tonometry). It is important to recommend tonometry to all people aged 40 and over. If there is familiar history of glaucoma, early diagnose in teenagers is recommendable.
- Computerized visual field examination (Humphrey® Filed Analyzer)
- Slitlamp biomicroscopy: it allows to explore and determine the anatomy of the optic nerve head .
- Pachymetry: measure of the thickness of the cornea
- OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography): a scanning method of the optic nerve head to examine the nerve fiber layer.