How is Glaucoma Detected?
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Most people have a fear of the unknown, which is why they get nervous when visiting the eye doctor. The best way to squash that fear is to educate yourself. It is so important to learn about glaucoma testing before you arrive at the eye doctor. If your Glendale, Arizona eye doctor thinks that you might have glaucoma, a series of tests will be run to confirm a diagnosis. Look through the various tests so you will not experience any surprises during your visit.
Visual Acuity Test
Your exam will begin with a visual acuity test. This test measures your vision at various distances to determine any compromise. While this test cannot diagnose glaucoma on its own, it provides the eye doctor with important information.
Visual Field Test
Because Glaucoma goes after people’s peripheral vision first, your eye doctor will perform a visual field test. If you have lost some of your peripheral vision, that is a sign that you could have the eye disease. However, your eye doctor will need to run additional tests to be certain.
Tonometry Test
This common eye test delivers a warm puff of air into the eyes, which your eye doctor will use to determine how your eyes handle the pressure. Some eye doctors use numbing drops for this test while others do not. It all depends on the patient’s level of sensitivity.
Pachymetry
Eye doctors must also measure the thickness of the cornea to determine if you have glaucoma. During the process, your eye doctor will put numbing drops in your eyes and then use an instrument to see how thick your corneas are. This might sound frightening, but you will not feel a thing.
Eye Exam
A thorough eye exam is necessary, as well. Your eye doctor will begin by dilating your eyes. This is a simple process whereby your eye doctor will place dilating drops into your eyes. Then, a magnifying lens is used to get a closer look at your optic nerve and pupils. Not only will this allow your eye doctor to look for signs of glaucoma, it helps identify eye problems.
Why Are There So Many Tests?
Most eye conditions require a single diagnostic test, but glaucoma is complex. Simply checking a patient’s eye pressure does not provide enough information to diagnose this disease. That is why eye doctors use a series of tests when diagnosing glaucoma. These tests provide them with all of the information needed to make a firm diagnosis of the condition.
Early detection is important when dealing with glaucoma. If you think you might have the disease, contact a Scottsdale, Arizona eye doctor so that you can go through the necessary tests. If your eye doctor rules out glaucoma, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that you do not have the disease. However, if your eye doctor determines that you do have glaucoma, you will be put on a treatment plan to slow down its progression.