Early diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma

Abstract

• Glaucoma is characterized by a progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells producing characteristic optic nerve head and visual field defects, which may eventually develop into irreversible visual functional defects. Early diagnosis is the key to treating the disease at an early stage to stop or delay the progression of visual functional defects. New technologies, including optic nerve and nerve fiber layer structural tests and visual functional tests, increased the diagnosis rate of primary open angle glaucoma at an early stage with comparion the classical standard automated perimetry. A combination of parameters from structural tests and functional tests can improve the sensitivity of glaucoma detection. The sensitivity and specificity desired for a particular clinical application will determine the selection of the particular diagnostic tests.