Glaucoma is a threat to vision caused by elevated fluid pressure in the eye. The most common type, open-angle glaucoma, affects more than two million people annually and can lead to optic nerve damage. Now, a study just published in the Archives of Ophthalmology has found that more frequent visual tests result in earlier discovery thus allowing earlier treatment of the progression of glaucoma.
In this study of over 380 patients ages 35 to 80, researchers found that, in the group who underwent visual field testing twice-yearly, the progression of their glaucoma was two-thirds more likely to be noticed than that of the group given only yearly tests. The researchers concluded, then, that a schedule of twice-yearly screenings is more beneficial, since glaucoma s visual impairment can be slowed by appropriate treatments. The authors would like to see validation of their findings in further studies involving other patient populations.