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"To make glaucoma more manageable,
make yourself more knowledgeable."
Tests for glaucoma are getting more sophisticated all the time, but they're easy to administer – and easy to take. Testing is an effective and important tool to help your doctor decide if you need treatment and whether your treatment is working well enough.
(such as high eye pressure or African-American ethnicity):
Every year or two after the age of 35 or whenever your doctor recommends it
If you have no risk factors:
Every two to four years before the age of 40
Every one to three years between the ages of 40 and 54
Every one to two years between the ages of 55 and 64
Every six to 12 months after the age of 65
When to get glaucoma testing
If you have glaucoma risk factors(such as high eye pressure or African-American ethnicity):
Every year or two after the age of 35 or whenever your doctor recommends itIf you have no risk factors:
Every two to four years before the age of 40 Every one to three years between the ages of 40 and 54 Every one to two years between the ages of 55 and 64 Every six to 12 months after the age of 65 
Types of tests
Your doctor may use several different tests to detect signs of glaucoma, including:Visual acuity
This eye chart test measures your vision at various distances.Visual field
This test measures whether you have any loss of side (peripheral) vision – a sign of glaucoma.Dilated eye exam
This exam allows your doctor to view your optic nerve to see if there is any damage. To do this, your doctor will place drops in your eye to dilate the pupil. While nothing to worry about, your close-up vision may be blurred for several hours and your eyes will be more sensitive to bright lights.Optic Nerve Computer Imaging
In recent years, three tests that provide pictures of the optic nerve have become widely available.- GDx: scanning laser polarimetry
- HRT (Heidelberg Retinal Tomography): confocal laser ophthalmoscopy
- OCT (optical coherence tomography)
Tonometry
This standard test for glaucoma determines the fluid pressure (or IOP) inside your eye. One test uses a gentle, brief touch to the eye to measure pressure. Another measures the resistance of the eye to a puff of air.Pachymetry
A numbing drop is applied to your eye and your doctor uses an ultrasonic wave instrument to measure the thickness of your cornea.
Glaucoma Treatments
While there is no cure today for glaucoma, immediate treatment for early stage, open-angle glaucoma can delay progression of the disease. That's why early diagnosis is very important.Depending upon the type of glaucoma, treatment may include a medication - usually prescription eye drops - or surgery. One type of eye drop belongs to a class of drugs called prostaglandin analogs. These drugs work by increasing the drainage inside the eye. This increase in drainage lowers IOP.
For some patients, surgery or laser treatments may also be an option. Please consult with your doctor for more information.
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