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Screening for Glaucoma

The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are given to people who do not have current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for glaucoma.

Screening Guidelines

Glaucoma screening is done as part of a routine eye exam. A person should have an eye exam by age 40 and additional eye exams:

  • Every 2 to 4 years between the ages of 40 and 54
  • Every 1 to 3 years between the ages of 55 and 64
  • Every 1 to 2 years at age 65 and over

A tonometry test will be done to measure the pressure inside the eye. A puff of air may be blown onto the cornea to take the reading. Or a small plastic device may be pushed against the eye to measure it.

REFERENCES:

Angle-closure glaucoma. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/angle-closure-glaucoma. Updated October 24, 2016. Accessed April 29, 2020.

Does marijuana help treat glaucoma? American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/medical-marijuana-glaucoma-treament. Updated June 17, 2019. Accessed April 29, 2020.

Facts about glaucoma. National Eye Institute website. Available at: https://nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts. Updated March 11, 2020. Accessed April 29, 2020.

Primary open-angle glaucoma. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/primary-open-angle-glaucoma. Updated February 7, 2020. Accessed April 29, 2020.

Prum BE Jr, Rosenberg LF, et al; American Academy of Ophthalmology. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Preferred Practice Pattern Guidelines. Ophthalmology. 2016 Jan;123(1):P41-P111.

What is glaucoma? American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Available at: http://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-glaucoma. Updated August 28, 2019. Accessed April 29, 2020.

What is glaucoma? Glaucoma Research Foundation website. Available at: http://www.glaucoma.org/glaucoma. Accessed April 29, 2020.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD