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During the routine eye test, Glaucoma can be detected through tonometry. If the reading are higher than the normal tonometer readings (usually the normal reading is 13 to 22), referral should be made for further follow up.

The light appearing to have halos around them is also an early sign of glaucoma.

The Glaucoma is a disease in which increased intraocular pressure (pressure/amount of the liquid in the eye) causes to the optic nerve leading to blindness.

The eye specialist will do the following tests:

Visual acuity: This eye chart test measures how well one can see at various distances.

Visual Field: This test measures the side (peripheral) vision and helps the doctor to find out whether lost the side vision, a sign of glaucoma.

Pupil dilation: This examination provides your eye care professional with a better view of the optic nerve to check for signs of damage. To do this, your eye care professional places drops into the eye to dilate (widen) the pupil. After the examination, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.

Tonometry: This standard test determines the fluid pressure inside the eye. There are many types of tonometry. One type uses a purple light to measure pressure. Another type is the "air puff," test, which measures the resistance of the eye to a puff of air.

Open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms. Vision will be normal and there will be no pain. Although the people may see things clearly in front of them, they miss the objects to the side and out of the corner of their eye and it may seem as though they are looking through a tunnel. Without treatment, the remaining forward vision may decrease and vision may lost totally.

Glaucoma is of two types:

Primary Glaucoma occurs with severe pain in the eye and it will occur without any warning.

Secondary Glaucoma occurs from increased intraocular pressure as a result of some other eye disease.

Glaucoma can affect anyone. But some people are at high risk than others and they include:

• Everyone over age 60.
• People with a family history of glaucoma

The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers and it connects the retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for good vision.

Increased pressure inside the eye causes glaucoma in many people. A clear fluid flows continuously in and out of the anterior chambers (space in the front of the eye). The fluid leaves the anterior chamber at the angle where the cornea and iris meet.

When the fluid reaches the angle, it flows through a spongy meshwork, like a drain, and leaves the eye. However, for unknown reasons, the fluid passes too slowly through the meshwork drain. As the fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye rises. Unless the pressure at the front of the eye is controlled, it can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss.

Yes. The treatment can control the Glaucoma, although it cannot be cured forever. The latest research findings show that laser surgery is a safe and effective treatment to medications.

Glaucoma treatments include:

Medicine: Medicines are the most common early treatment for glaucoma. They come in the form of eyedrops and pills.

Laser surgery (also called laser trabeculoplasty): Laser surgery helps fluid drain out of the eye. Although the eye care professional may suggest laser surgery at any time, it is often done after trying treatment with medicines. In many cases, the patient will need to keep taking glaucoma drugs even after laser surgery.

Conventional surgery: The purpose of surgery is to make a new opening for the fluid to leave the eye. Although the eye specialist may suggest it at any time, this surgery is often done after medicine and laser surgery have failed to control the pressure.