Regulareye exams, including specific glaucoma tests, are important for the early detection of glaucoma. If diagnosed early enough, glaucoma can be properly managed to prevent major loss of vision.
This article reviews six tests used to help detect glaucoma. You’ll learn about the individual glaucoma tests, including who needs these tests, what to expect, and how to interpret results.
1TonometryWestend61 / Getty ImagesTonometryis a very common glaucoma test to measure the pressure inside the eye, or intraocular pressure (IOP).Havingeye pressure higher than normalputs you at higher risk forglaucoma. But it’s not a definite diagnosis of glaucoma.Most people fall into a normal range, but it’s possible to have glaucoma with lower eye pressure, and not to have glaucoma with higher pressures.An important measure is whether the pressure fluctuates up and down a lot, and what that particular eye pressure is doing to your eye.
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TonometryWestend61 / Getty ImagesTonometryis a very common glaucoma test to measure the pressure inside the eye, or intraocular pressure (IOP).Havingeye pressure higher than normalputs you at higher risk forglaucoma. But it’s not a definite diagnosis of glaucoma.Most people fall into a normal range, but it’s possible to have glaucoma with lower eye pressure, and not to have glaucoma with higher pressures.An important measure is whether the pressure fluctuates up and down a lot, and what that particular eye pressure is doing to your eye.
Tonometry
Westend61 / Getty Images
Tonometryis a very common glaucoma test to measure the pressure inside the eye, or intraocular pressure (IOP).
Havingeye pressure higher than normalputs you at higher risk forglaucoma. But it’s not a definite diagnosis of glaucoma.
Most people fall into a normal range, but it’s possible to have glaucoma with lower eye pressure, and not to have glaucoma with higher pressures.
An important measure is whether the pressure fluctuates up and down a lot, and what that particular eye pressure is doing to your eye.
2OphthalmoscopyOphthalmoscopyis used to examine the inside of the eye.What to ExpectAn ophthalmoscopy can be performed on adilatedor undilated eye. An eye doctor uses special magnifying lenses and medical devices to view the optic nerve.The color, shape, and overall health of the optic nerve is important in glaucoma assessment.The doctor may also use a digital camera to photograph the optic nerve. Sometimes, stereo photographs are taken to give a 3-dimensional picture to better assess the overall shape of the optic nerve.
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OphthalmoscopyOphthalmoscopyis used to examine the inside of the eye.What to ExpectAn ophthalmoscopy can be performed on adilatedor undilated eye. An eye doctor uses special magnifying lenses and medical devices to view the optic nerve.The color, shape, and overall health of the optic nerve is important in glaucoma assessment.The doctor may also use a digital camera to photograph the optic nerve. Sometimes, stereo photographs are taken to give a 3-dimensional picture to better assess the overall shape of the optic nerve.
Ophthalmoscopy
Ophthalmoscopyis used to examine the inside of the eye.
What to ExpectAn ophthalmoscopy can be performed on adilatedor undilated eye. An eye doctor uses special magnifying lenses and medical devices to view the optic nerve.The color, shape, and overall health of the optic nerve is important in glaucoma assessment.
What to Expect
An ophthalmoscopy can be performed on adilatedor undilated eye. An eye doctor uses special magnifying lenses and medical devices to view the optic nerve.The color, shape, and overall health of the optic nerve is important in glaucoma assessment.
An ophthalmoscopy can be performed on adilatedor undilated eye. An eye doctor uses special magnifying lenses and medical devices to view the optic nerve.
The color, shape, and overall health of the optic nerve is important in glaucoma assessment.
The doctor may also use a digital camera to photograph the optic nerve. Sometimes, stereo photographs are taken to give a 3-dimensional picture to better assess the overall shape of the optic nerve.
3GonioscopyGonioscopyis a glaucoma test that uses a special mirrored device to gently touch the surface of the eye.Gonioscopy examines the angle where the cornea meets the iris. Whether this angle is open or closed can tell the doctor what type of glaucoma is present, and how severe glaucoma may be.Gonioscopy can also be completed usingoptical coherence tomography.
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GonioscopyGonioscopyis a glaucoma test that uses a special mirrored device to gently touch the surface of the eye.Gonioscopy examines the angle where the cornea meets the iris. Whether this angle is open or closed can tell the doctor what type of glaucoma is present, and how severe glaucoma may be.Gonioscopy can also be completed usingoptical coherence tomography.
Gonioscopy
Gonioscopyis a glaucoma test that uses a special mirrored device to gently touch the surface of the eye.
Gonioscopy examines the angle where the cornea meets the iris. Whether this angle is open or closed can tell the doctor what type of glaucoma is present, and how severe glaucoma may be.
Gonioscopy can also be completed usingoptical coherence tomography.
4Visual Field TestA visual field test, or perimetry, is a test that measures how sensitive a person’s vision is.What to ExpectDuring a visual field test:You will look straight ahead at a small light or another target.The examiner will ask you to let them know when you see a light flash off to the side in your peripheral vision.Most visual field testing today is computerized. Visual field testing usually needs to be repeated several times before the doctor can make a valid assessment.
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Visual Field TestA visual field test, or perimetry, is a test that measures how sensitive a person’s vision is.What to ExpectDuring a visual field test:You will look straight ahead at a small light or another target.The examiner will ask you to let them know when you see a light flash off to the side in your peripheral vision.Most visual field testing today is computerized. Visual field testing usually needs to be repeated several times before the doctor can make a valid assessment.
Visual Field Test
A visual field test, or perimetry, is a test that measures how sensitive a person’s vision is.
What to ExpectDuring a visual field test:You will look straight ahead at a small light or another target.The examiner will ask you to let them know when you see a light flash off to the side in your peripheral vision.
During a visual field test:You will look straight ahead at a small light or another target.The examiner will ask you to let them know when you see a light flash off to the side in your peripheral vision.
During a visual field test:
Most visual field testing today is computerized. Visual field testing usually needs to be repeated several times before the doctor can make a valid assessment.
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Nerve Fiber Analysis
Who Needs This Test?Nerve fiber analysis is especially good for patients who have clinical features or risk factors that increase the chance of developing glaucoma.It can also indicate if a person’s glaucoma is progressively becoming worse.
Who Needs This Test?
Nerve fiber analysis is especially good for patients who have clinical features or risk factors that increase the chance of developing glaucoma.It can also indicate if a person’s glaucoma is progressively becoming worse.
Nerve fiber analysis is especially good for patients who have clinical features or risk factors that increase the chance of developing glaucoma.
It can also indicate if a person’s glaucoma is progressively becoming worse.
6PachymetryPachymetry is a method that measures the thickness of the cornea. Although research is still being conducted on the importance of corneal thickness, pachymetry is starting to play a larger role in glaucoma testing.The thickness of the cornea seems to influence the eye pressure reading when tonometry is performed.
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PachymetryPachymetry is a method that measures the thickness of the cornea. Although research is still being conducted on the importance of corneal thickness, pachymetry is starting to play a larger role in glaucoma testing.The thickness of the cornea seems to influence the eye pressure reading when tonometry is performed.
Pachymetry
Pachymetry is a method that measures the thickness of the cornea. Although research is still being conducted on the importance of corneal thickness, pachymetry is starting to play a larger role in glaucoma testing.
The thickness of the cornea seems to influence the eye pressure reading when tonometry is performed.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lee SY, Bae HW, Kwon HJ, Seong GJ, Kim CY. Utility of Goldmann applanation tonometry for monitoring intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients with a history of laser refractive surgery [published correction appears in PLoS One. 2018 Oct 25;13(10):e0206564].PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0192344. Published 2018 Feb 5. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0192344Ahmad SS.Glaucoma suspects: a practical approach.Taiwan J Ophthalmol. 2018;8(2):74–81. doi:10.4103/tjo.tjo_106_17
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lee SY, Bae HW, Kwon HJ, Seong GJ, Kim CY. Utility of Goldmann applanation tonometry for monitoring intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients with a history of laser refractive surgery [published correction appears in PLoS One. 2018 Oct 25;13(10):e0206564].PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0192344. Published 2018 Feb 5. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0192344Ahmad SS.Glaucoma suspects: a practical approach.Taiwan J Ophthalmol. 2018;8(2):74–81. doi:10.4103/tjo.tjo_106_17
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lee SY, Bae HW, Kwon HJ, Seong GJ, Kim CY. Utility of Goldmann applanation tonometry for monitoring intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients with a history of laser refractive surgery [published correction appears in PLoS One. 2018 Oct 25;13(10):e0206564].PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0192344. Published 2018 Feb 5. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0192344Ahmad SS.Glaucoma suspects: a practical approach.Taiwan J Ophthalmol. 2018;8(2):74–81. doi:10.4103/tjo.tjo_106_17
Lee SY, Bae HW, Kwon HJ, Seong GJ, Kim CY. Utility of Goldmann applanation tonometry for monitoring intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients with a history of laser refractive surgery [published correction appears in PLoS One. 2018 Oct 25;13(10):e0206564].PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0192344. Published 2018 Feb 5. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0192344
Ahmad SS.Glaucoma suspects: a practical approach.Taiwan J Ophthalmol. 2018;8(2):74–81. doi:10.4103/tjo.tjo_106_17
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