Topic > Five Senses Essay - 1349

Glaucoma can occur in patients of any age, so annual screenings are necessary for all ages (Understanding and Living with Glaucoma, 2012). Patients at highest risk for glaucoma include patients of African and Asian descent, patients over the age of 60, patients who are very nearsighted or nearsighted, and patients who use steroids excessively (Understanding and Living with Glaucoma, 2012). There are two types of glaucoma screening (Understanding and Living with Glaucoma, 2012). They are tonometry and ophthalmoscopy (Understanding and Living with Glaucoma, 2012). To measure intraocular pressure, IOP, the healthcare provider will use tonometry (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). Eye drops are used to numb the eye so that a tonometer can be used to measure the pressure inside the eye (Understanding and Living with Glaucoma, 2012). The normal range for patients with normal eye pressure ranges from 10 to 21 mm Hg (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). Patients with open-angle glaucoma have a pressure of 22 mm Hg, while with closed-angle glaucoma the pressure reading is 30 mm Hg or higher (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). During ophthalmoscopy, eye drops are also used, but to dilate the pupil (Understanding and Living with Glaucoma, 2012). The healthcare provider can then examine the optic nerve for glaucoma-related damage (Understanding and Living with