On the lookout:  how to save the sight of Australians who have glaucoma

Walland, Mark J

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01616.x

Topics

Excessive reliance on intraocular pressure to detect glaucoma leaves many affected patients undiagnosed and untreated; visualisation of the optic disc is a dying art that needs to be revived

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is measured by tonometry. In our community, mean IOP is around 15 mmHg, with a normal range (mean ± 2 SD) regarded as 10–21 mmHg. This information is irrelevant to the diagnosis of glaucoma.

Glaucoma Investigation and Research Unit, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne,VIC; and Department of Ophthalmology and University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.

Correspondence: mwalland@unimelb.edu.au

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