Interpretation of Tonometry and Ophthalmoscopy

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. 20037.

I am asked to orient my presentation to the practicing ophthalmologist in developing general operational guidelines for interpreting tonometric and ophthalmoscopic findings. I shall focus my attention on the adult primary glaucomas and briefly allude to some secondary forms. In discussions of this nature, it is customary to speak of open-angle glaucoma because of the complexity of its detection and management as well as its insidious and virtually asymptomatic course. However, it is important to keep in mind that closed-angle glaucoma is not any less threatening to visual function of the adult and deserves equal attention because of its amenability to cure by a simple surgical procedure. Therefore, I shall point to findings that should arouse suspicion of this entity.

Key Words: tonometry • ophthalmoscopy • glaucoma • optical pressure level • visual field