Open-angle glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is a common cause of blindness and visual impairment, and is characterized by elevated intraocular pressure, optic nerve degeneration and visual field loss. Risk factors include increasing age, black race, positive family history and diabetes. Since many high risk individuals are seen periodically by primary care physicians, the office or clinic is a logical site for screening for open angle glaucoma. Tonometry is a useful screening maneuver, but is little used in the primary care setting. If primary care physicians can acquire the necessary skills, ophthalmoscopy may be a simple, safe and inexpensive alternative to tonometry.