Glaucoma

Question 1

Define glaucoma

Answer 1

optic neuropathy with characteristic structural damage to the optic nerve associated with progressive retinal ganglion cell death, loss of nerve fibres and visual field loss

Question 2

What are the causes/risk factors of glaucoma?

Answer 2

• Ocular hypertension is the main cause for glaucoma.
• Trauma
• Uveitis
• DM
• Family history

Question 3

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Answer 3

Acute:
• Painful red eye
• vomiting
• impaired vision
• haloes around lights

Chronic:
• Discovered incidentally during routine examination or during examination for another reason
• Gradual loss of vision

Question 4

What are the signs of glaucoma?

Answer 4

• raised IOP

Acute 
• red eye
• hazy cornea
• loss of red reflex
• fixed and dilated pupil
• eye tender and hard on palpation
• cupped optic disc

Question 5

What investigations are carried out for glaucoma?

Answer 5

• Goldmann Applanation Tonometry
• Pachymetry
• Fundoscopy
• Gonioscopy
• Perimetry
• Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography