How are varicose veins diagnosed? just by looking?

Usually yes: Diagnosing varicose veins is usually easily done just by looking. What is important though, if you have visible varicose veins, is to make sure that your veins that you can't see just by looking--the ones below the surface of the skin-- are evaluated. This is done with ultrasound. The reason why this is important is because vein trouble that you can't see often causes trouble you can see.

Exam and ultrasound: Varicose veins can usually be diagnosed by inspection. A hand-held doppler can verify that the blood flow is abnormal, that is that venous reflux is present. A duplex ultrasound would be essential to determine if any underlying causes are present, and for treatment planning. See a vein specialist, or phlebologist (http://www.Phlebology.Org/) for an evaluation.

Pretty much: Usually varicose veins can be easily diagnosed on physicial exam, being those wormy bulging veins, generally of the legs. Your physician can determine if you have varicose veins and if you should have an ultrasound exam of your leg veins to determine the cause and extent of your varicose veins as well as develop a treatment plan appropriate to you.

Varicose veins: Varicose veins are diagnosed by physical examination. They appear as large, bulging, grape-like areas in the location of veins. They are further diagnosed by a venous duplex ultrasound examination which will determine if the veins are due to malfunctioning valves of the saphenous system of veins. See a vein specialist for a venous evaluation is you feel that you may have varicose veins.

Varicose vein: the key diagnostic test is a venous Doppler-sonogram to determine if this vein valve reflux. If so, then thermal ablation could be done to treat the issue. If no reflux is established then sclerotherapy would be a reasonable treatment option.