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NEI Statement

Glaucoma Detection

National Eye Institute
National Institutes of Health

Detection of glaucoma in high-risk individuals is best done through a comprehensive eye examination. Those at an increased risk for glaucoma are Blacks over age 40, all people over age 60, and individuals with a family history of glaucoma. The eye examination should include an appropriate family history, measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure, examination of the retina and optic nerve through dilated pupils, and, where indicated, evaluation of the visual field. People thought to have glaucoma should receive appropriate follow-up and management. People at high risk of glaucoma who do not have the disease should be examined every two years. Eye care professionals may recommend more frequent examinations for those considered at sufficient risk for imminent optic nerve damage.

A traditional method of detecting glaucoma is tonometry, which measures intraocular pressure. However, because of individual variations in what constitutes "normal" intraocular pressure, tonometry by itself is not sufficient for an accurate diagnosis of glaucoma. Data collected at several public glaucoma screenings suggest that many people without glaucoma will screen positive with tonometry alone, while many individuals with glaucoma will screen negative. An eye care professional can detect glaucoma during a comprehensive eye examination through dilated pupils and may also identify other ocular conditions requiring attention. The examination also provides an opportunity for educating individuals about appropriate eye care.

May 1998