CA
A 36-year-old member asked:

Can you tell me about tests for cataracts and glaucoma?

4 doctor answers5 doctors weighed in
Dr. David Kira
Ophthalmology 23 years experience
Annual exam: Both of these tests are part of your annual eye exam: glaucoma - eye pressure testing. Cataracts - refraction and dilation to check the lens.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Robert Chang
Specializes in Ophthalmology
Routine exam: A general eye checkup will look for cataracts and glaucoma. Typically they are best evaluated with a dilated fundus exam to look at the lens and corresponding visual acuity, as well as checking the eye pressure and seeing if the optic nerve is "cupped" and any gross peripheral vision defects. Once something is found, further detailed testing may be performed to check visual significance.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. William Dieck
Ophthalmology 40 years experience
They differ: Cataract: best corrected visual acuity, dilated eye exam evaluating clarity of natural lens, sometimes glare testing, intraocular lens measurements and calculations. Glaucoma: dilated eye exam focusing on the optic nerves, intraocular pressure testing, pachymetry(corneal thickness), hrt/oct testing (sophisticated nerve and retinal imaging), visual field testing (checking peripheral vision).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Constance Okeke
ophthalmology 23 years experience
There are several : tests utilized separately for glaucoma and for cataract evaluation. For glaucoma: eye pressure, Slitlamp examination of the eye focusing on the optic nerve, gonioscopy to look at the angle structures, visual field test to look for subtle patterns of vision loss, a retinal nerve fiber layer analyzer to evaluate patterns of nerve loss, and fundus photos to monitor for change in optic nerve.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Similar questions

A 47-year-old member asked:

What are the tests involved for someone cataracts and glaucoma?

2 doctor answers6 doctors weighed in
Dr. John Odette
Ophthalmology 17 years experience
Eye Exam: I full eye exam would suggest if you have glaucoma or cataracts. Evaluation of your lens, intraocular pressure and optic nerve would all be done in a standard exam. If glaucoma is suspected after examining pressures and nerves, more testing may be warranted such as visual field testing, oct testing and pacchymetry.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated May 29, 2015
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