On the left is a normal eye and on the right is one with glaucoma. Both of these photos were taken with our digital fundus camera.

Glaucoma refers to an increase of pressure inside the eye that is disproportional to the blood pressure. This is a dangerous condition because they are no warning signs to the patient before they go blind. This condition affects over 500,000 Australians therefore a preventative check should be conducted every two years.

The ability to check for glaucoma is through three methods:

1. Look at the optic nerve and see whether it is swollen and whether it is round.
2. A visual field test (computer game) assesses the integrity of the peripheral vision of the eye and peripheral vision is the first thing to go in glaucoma
3. Intra-ocular pressure is measured and compared to previous readings to see whether it is elevated.

Treatment is straightforward, as Glaucoma refers to an increase of pressure in the eye, drops can be taken to decrease fluid production or to increase drainage. As well as this surgical intervention can be performed to increase drainage of the fluid out of the eye. However drops are the preferred treatment.