Glaucoma Information prev next
Feb 01 2006
How Do I Know if I Have Glaucoma?
Just as our annual physical examination is used to monitor the systems of our body, our annual eye examination is used to monitor the components of the eye. The medical examination may indicate a need for further testing to gain specific information about a part of the body. Similarly, the eye examination may indicate a need for further testing to gain specific information about a part of the eyes.
If your eye doctor suspects an increasing risk of nerve damage, special tests will be undertaken to specifically evaluate the optic nerve. One of the procedures evaluates the sensitivity of peripheral vision. This is often called a field of vision or visual field test. Since glaucoma generally affects peripheral vision earlier, this test of the peripheral vision has been used for many years.
Recent developments in technology have enabled computerized, laser evaluation of optic nerve fibers and very detailed documentation of changes in the nerve. This has led to earlier detection and better monitoring of glaucoma damage.
