Detecting possible glaucoma with only limited equipment: a crucial first step

Glaucoma causes irreversible visual loss and must be detected as early as possible. It is therefore vital that all health care professionals are aware of glaucoma when they encounter patients who are most at risk. This includes people who are over 40 years of age and those who have first-degree relatives (siblings, parents or grown-up children) with glaucoma. People are also at higher risk if they wear spectacles for distance vision, if they have had an eye injury in the past, and if they complain about a gradual loss of vision. There is no single test which can detect glaucoma; the key is to perform a basic eye assessment and to combine all findings to identify people who would benefit from a more comprehensive examination. In some clinics, particularly at primary level, there is often only limited equipment available. However, by conducting the basic eye assessment described in this article, it will be possible to pick up important clues that suggest a patient is at high risk of glaucoma.