The Path to Glaucoma Diagnosis. |
Kwan Bok Lee, Min Kyung Kim, Mi Jin Kim, Sang Il Ahn, Young Hoon Hwang |
1Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. brainh@hanmail.net 2Department of Ophthalmology, Cheonan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. |
녹내장의 진단 경로 |
이관복1⋅김민경1⋅김미진1⋅안상일2⋅황영훈1 |
건양대학교 의과대학 김안과병원 안과학교실 명곡안연구소1, 순천향대학교 의과대학 천안병원 안과학교실2 |
Received: 17 December 2015 • Revised: 26 February 2016 • Accepted: 27 March 2016 |
Abstract |
PURPOSE To evaluate the events leading to a diagnosis of glaucoma. METHODS: Medical records of 484 subjects (223 women, 261 men; mean age, 55.3 years) who visited a glaucoma clinic without previous glaucoma diagnosis were reviewed. Events were classified into: 1) glaucoma-related symptoms, such as ocular pain accompanied by intraocular pressure elevation or visual disturbance without other ocular abnormalities except glaucoma, 2) ocular examination by an ophthalmologist for other symptoms, 3) routine health examination, or 4) patient request due to family history of glaucoma. Ocular findings that suggested glaucoma and led to detailed glaucoma assessment were classified as: 1) an optic disc abnormality, 2) high intraocular pressure, or 3) both. RESULTS: Events that led to the diagnosis of glaucoma were glaucoma-related symptoms in 11.8%, examination by an ophthalmologist in 74.2%, routine health examination in 12.4%, and family history in 1.7% of subjects. Findings that suggested glaucoma in ocular and routine health examinations were an optic disc abnormality in 84.2% and high intraocular pressure in 15.8%; both of these findings were found in 7.4% of subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The most common path to glaucoma diagnosis was optic disc assessment by an ophthalmologist and routine health examination. To facilitate early detection of glaucoma, regular detailed optic disc evaluation by an ophthalmologist should be emphasized. |
Key Words:
Diagnosis;Glaucoma;Visual field |
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