Monitoring And Treating Pressure - Glaucoma: Eye Care
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Monitoring and treating pressure
Most types of glaucoma — including chronic open-angle glaucoma, the most common type — can be controlled but not cured. No treatment can restore vision lost to the damage of glaucoma, but it is possible to stop the progression of the disease.
Each year, glaucoma patients typically undergo two to four examinations that measure visual acuity, the optic disc, and eye pressure. The visual field test and other tests are done at selected intervals to establish the stability of the disease or to note deterioration, which requires more effective treatment. This ongoing monitoring is important in order to prevent glaucoma from developing or to preserve vision in people with glaucoma.
In particular, several large randomized clinical trials have reported significant benefits to reducing intraocular pressure — whether through medications (see below), surgery, or some combination. The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS), for example, involved more than 1,600 people recruited across the country who were at risk for developing glaucoma. OHTS investigators found that early treatment with eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure reduced by half the chance of developing glaucoma. Two other trials, the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study and the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study, further confirmed the benefits of lowering intraocular pressure, whether through various types of surgery or through medication.
Home testing for glaucomaYou can buy a device to check your eye pressure at home, but a regular professional eye exam is far more reliable and less likely to produce false readings that could result in needless worry or unwarranted reassurances. The device, called the Proview Eye Pressure Monitor, measures pressure through the eyelid on the basis of phosphene — a sensation of light produced in the eye by something other than light. To see a phosphene, close your eye and gently press your finger on your eyelid where it meets the nose. The phosphene appears as a bright central area surrounded by a dark ring with an outer bright halo. The eye pressure monitor works by gently applying pressure with a pencil-like probe on the eyelid until the patient sees the phosphene ring. The device then converts the input to a pressure measurement. Further studies are under way to evaluate the device's accuracy. If you choose to use this device, it is important to see an ophthalmologist to discuss its use. |
| Last updated: | June 19, 2007 |
|---|
Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. By using AOL Body, you indicate that you have read, understood, and agreed to our Terms of Service, Use of Content Agreement and AOL Body Advertising Policy. Read more about our content partners.
Search
Related Articles
Where Does it Hurt?
If you're experiencing aches and pains we can help you find answers. Find out what your symptoms mean for your health.
