Tests for Glaucoma in Boulder

Glaucoma, or excess pressure behind the eye, is an eye disease that, over time, causes damage to the optic nerves. With few early symptoms, few people notice this increase in pressure until blind spots begin to develop, at which point complete blindness is a reality for many. As it stands today, this eye disease is the leading cause of blindness in all of the world, especially among senior citizens.

With this in mind, testing for Glaucoma Boulder is incredibly important, and people who undergo these simple screenings are in a better position to detect the disease before it develops into a crippling condition.

What are the Causes of this Disease?

While doctors don’t currently understand the exact causes of the disease, it’s clear that it involves an ongoing compression of the nerves of the eye. In some cases, this compression is due to high pressures within the eye, although it’s also possible for people to develop the disease without excessively high eye pressure.

Tests for Glaucoma in Boulder

If a person suspects that this disease may be developing, or simply wants to be sure that their eyes are healthy and normal, a test is typically ordered. These tests fall into the following categories:

•       Tonometry. Tonometry is a process within which a doctor measures the pressure of a person’s eye. This is a critical step in determining whether or not the disease is present, since high eye pressure is typically one of the first signs. Throughout a tonometry test, a doctor will numb a patient’s eye with eye drops and use an instrument to test how effectively the cornea resists pressure. If the pressure is excessively high, the beginning phases of the disease may be present.

•       Gonioscopy. Gonioscopy is a test within which a doctor evaluates the drainage angle of the eye. If the drainage angle of the eye is off, it’s possible that the disease is present, and the doctor may choose to take treatment approaches with a patient.

•       Ophthalmoscopy. During this test, a doctor will look at the optic nerve of the eye to determine whether the disease is present or not. Doctors are looking for the presence of “cupping,” optic nerve changes, during this test.

•       Visual field test. During this test, doctors look for blank spots in a person’s vision. If they’re present, it’s possible that the disease has begun to take hold, and that treatment may be needed. To check for blank spots, doctors ask patients to press a button whenever a light appears in their side vision.

•       Pachymetry. This test measures the cornea’s thickness, and can be a critical one in diagnosing the disease, since thin corneas are a warning sign and symptom.