Signs and symptoms of glaucoma

There are some characteristic symptoms for every type of glaucoma:

Open angle glaucoma 

• Most people have no symptoms
• Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision

Acute glaucoma 

• Severe eye pain, facial pain
• Decreased or cloudy vision
• Red eye
• Swelling of the eye
• Pupil does not react to light
• Nausea and vomiting (may be the major symptom in the elderly)

Congenital glaucoma

• Tearing
• Sensitivity to light
• Red eye
• Enlargement of one eye or both eyes
• Cloudiness of the front of the eye

Risk factors

It is proven that certain factors can increase a chance of having the eye pressure problem and some of the most common are:

Age
Age is considered to be a very important risk factor in the development of glaucoma. Those who are older than 60 are at a particularly increased risk of the disorder.
Race
Although the reasons for these differences aren't clear, it is proven that African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and Japanese-Americans are significantly more likely to get glaucoma than Caucasians, and they are much more likely to suffer permanent blindness as a result.  
Heredity
It is proven that, if someone has a family history of glaucoma, he or she has a much greater risk of developing glaucoma.
Medical conditions
Diabetes significantly increases the risk of developing glaucoma. It also increases chances of developing retinal detachment, eye tumors and eye inflammations such as chronic uveitis and iritis.  
Physical injuries
Severe trauma can lead to increased eye pressure. Not only that, the injury can also dislocate the lens, closing the drainage angle.
Prolonged corticosteroid use
Using corticosteroids for prolonged periods of time appears to put you at risk of getting secondary glaucoma.
Eye abnormalities
Structural abnormalities of the eye can lead to secondary glaucoma

Screening and Diagnosis  

Tonometry
Tonometry is a very simple, painless procedure that measures intraocular pressure. Two common techniques are:

• Air-puff tonometry – A puff of air is used to measure the amount of force needed to indent cornea.
• Applanation tonometry – A sophisticated device that's usually fitted to a slit lamp is used.

Test for optic nerve damage
In order to see if the optic nerve has been damaged, the doctor uses ophthalmoscope which enables him or her to look directly through the pupil to the back of your eye.

Perimetry test
This test requires a patient to look at a screen with a target in the center. During this, doctor manipulates a small object on a wand at different locations in your visual field.

Pachymetry
During this test, the doctor uses an ultrasonic wave instrument to gauge the thickness of each cornea. This is because the thickness of corneas is an important factor for accurately diagnosing glaucoma.
If someone has thick corneas, eye pressure may seem high even though he or she doesn't have glaucoma.