Detecting possible glaucoma with only limited equipment: a crucial first step

Glaucoma causes irreversible visual loss and must be detected as early as possible. It is therefore vital that all health care professionals are aware of glaucoma when they encounter patients who are most at risk. This includes people who are over 40 years of age and those who have first-degree rela...

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Main Authors: Matthew Burton, Peter Shah, Heiko Philippin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH), London 2012-01-01
Series:Community Eye Health Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.cehjournal.org/0953-6833/25/jceh_25_79.80_048.htm
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author Matthew Burton
Peter Shah
Heiko Philippin
author_facet Matthew Burton
Peter Shah
Heiko Philippin
author_sort Matthew Burton
collection DOAJ
description Glaucoma causes irreversible visual loss and must be detected as early as possible. It is therefore vital that all health care professionals are aware of glaucoma when they encounter patients who are most at risk. This includes people who are over 40 years of age and those who have first-degree relatives (siblings, parents or grown-up children) with glaucoma. People are also at higher risk if they wear spectacles for distance vision, if they have had an eye injury in the past, and if they complain about a gradual loss of vision. There is no single test which can detect glaucoma; the key is to perform a basic eye assessment and to combine all findings to identify people who would benefit from a more comprehensive examination. In some clinics, particularly at primary level, there is often only limited equipment available. However, by conducting the basic eye assessment described in this article, it will be possible to pick up important clues that suggest a patient is at high risk of glaucoma.
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spelling doaj.art-ca1669ed20fc4a06a36a8611d00d02d22022-12-22T01:59:57ZengInternational Centre for Eye Health (ICEH), LondonCommunity Eye Health Journal0953-68332012-01-012579 & 804849Detecting possible glaucoma with only limited equipment: a crucial first stepMatthew BurtonPeter ShahHeiko PhilippinGlaucoma causes irreversible visual loss and must be detected as early as possible. It is therefore vital that all health care professionals are aware of glaucoma when they encounter patients who are most at risk. This includes people who are over 40 years of age and those who have first-degree relatives (siblings, parents or grown-up children) with glaucoma. People are also at higher risk if they wear spectacles for distance vision, if they have had an eye injury in the past, and if they complain about a gradual loss of vision. There is no single test which can detect glaucoma; the key is to perform a basic eye assessment and to combine all findings to identify people who would benefit from a more comprehensive examination. In some clinics, particularly at primary level, there is often only limited equipment available. However, by conducting the basic eye assessment described in this article, it will be possible to pick up important clues that suggest a patient is at high risk of glaucoma.http://www.cehjournal.org/0953-6833/25/jceh_25_79.80_048.htmGlaucomaGlaucomaOpen-AngleDiagnosisPrimary Health CarePhysical Examination
spellingShingle Matthew Burton
Peter Shah
Heiko Philippin
Detecting possible glaucoma with only limited equipment: a crucial first step
Community Eye Health Journal
Glaucoma
Glaucoma
Open-Angle
Diagnosis
Primary Health Care
Physical Examination
title Detecting possible glaucoma with only limited equipment: a crucial first step
title_full Detecting possible glaucoma with only limited equipment: a crucial first step
title_fullStr Detecting possible glaucoma with only limited equipment: a crucial first step
title_full_unstemmed Detecting possible glaucoma with only limited equipment: a crucial first step
title_short Detecting possible glaucoma with only limited equipment: a crucial first step
title_sort detecting possible glaucoma with only limited equipment a crucial first step
topic Glaucoma
Glaucoma
Open-Angle
Diagnosis
Primary Health Care
Physical Examination
url http://www.cehjournal.org/0953-6833/25/jceh_25_79.80_048.htm
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