How to assess a patient for glaucoma

Abstract

IntroductionGlaucoma affects approximately 65 million people around the world and an expected 7.5 million are blind due to the disease. It is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide.1 It is estimated that perhaps half the blindness from glaucoma in the world is caused by angle closure.2 Accordingly, in order to be effective, any case detection has to include methods to detect angle closure.A clinic examination is different from a screening programme in the community. In the clinic the patient has sought us out and the responsibility is ours to detect and treat any pathology, including glaucoma. Some short cuts that may be satisfactory in screening programmes are not acceptable in a clinic. The best method to detect (and assess) glaucoma is to perform a comprehensive eye examination for all patients who attend the clinic, irrespective of the complaints they present with.

Keywords

• Glaucoma
• Diagnostic Techniques
• Ophthalmological
• Quality of Health Care