Glaucoma Testing: Puff Not Enough

If you wear eyeglasses, you've almost certainly been put through the "puff" test to screen for glaucoma. But the Glaucoma Research Foundation now says the "puff" may not be enough to determine the presence of the disease.

Foundation experts say a glaucoma exam should include an evaluation of the optic nerve or a visual field test in addition to a pressure test. The organization recommends individuals at high risk for developing glaucoma have a thorough eye exam every one to two years.

Individuals at high risk include those over 60 years of age, relatives of people with glaucoma, diabetics, African Americans over 40 years of age and people who are very nearsighted.

The term glaucoma refers to a group of diseases with common features including excess eye pressure, damage to the optic nerve and permanent loss of peripheral vision. Glaucoma affects 3 million Americans and is the leading cause of blindness in African Americans.

Nearly half of the cases in the United States are currently undiagnosed.