Intraocular pressure measurement for early detection of glaucoma
Information on personalised healthcare services (IGeL) relating to intraocular pressure measurement
Glaucoma is a relatively widespread disease. In Western industrialised nations, glaucoma is the most common cause of blindness. Approximately one million people in Germany suffer from glaucoma.
Ophthalmologists often offer early detection screening for glaucoma, which involve measuring intraocular pressure. However, this is not a statutory service and must therefore be paid for by the patient themselves. We have put together detailed information on glaucoma screening for you. This will allow you to decide for yourself whether you want to take advantage of early glaucoma detection or not.
Glaucoma is the name given to various diseases that lead to the loss of nerve fibres. This results in a deterioration of vision. As glaucoma progresses slowly and there are hardly any noticeable symptoms at first, it is difficult to detect the disease in its early stages.
The main causes of glaucoma are increased intraocular pressure or insufficient blood flow to the optic nerve and retina.
The following factors increase the risk of developing glaucoma:
People with glaucoma do not experience any symptoms for a long time. Only after some time does a slow deterioration in vision occur. Peripheral vision becomes increasingly restricted. The person affected can see objects that are directly in their field of vision, but objects further away are difficult or impossible to see. This manifests itself in those affected, for instance, in that they bump into things more often or have difficulty climbing stairs.
To prevent further damage to the optic nerve, the pressure inside the eye must be reduced. This can be done with the help of eye drops. If medication is no longer sufficient, surgery or laser treatment can help. However, it is not possible to restore full vision.
During intraocular pressure measurement (tonometry), a small cylinder is placed on the patient’s open eye with light pressure. The intraocular pressure can then be read of a scale. In a healthy person, the intraocular pressure is between 10 and 21 mmHg. (mmHG stands for millimetres of mercury and is a unit of measurement for physical pressure in medical diagnostics.) Values above this range are unfavourable and can damage the optic nerve.
Elevated intraocular pressure is a major risk factor for the development of glaucoma. Intraocular pressure measurement can diagnose glaucoma at an early stage.
As a rule, intraocular pressure measurement has no side effects. In rare cases, damage to the cornea or conjunctivitis may occur. However, intraocular pressure measurement is considered an inaccurate test for early detection of glaucoma. It is possible that glaucoma may be misdiagnosed based on the measurement, causing unnecessary anxiety and treatment for healthy individuals. Alternatively, glaucoma may not be diagnosed despite intraocular measurement, and the examination may provide a false sense of security.
The cost of intraocular pressure measurement is approximately 10 to 25 euros.
Intraocular pressure measurement was rated as generally negative by the IGeL Monitor, which evaluates the benefits and harms of personalised healthcare services (IGeL) based on studies. The reason for this rating is that intraocular pressure measurement cannot reliably predict or diagnose glaucoma. Although increased intraocular pressure is a risk factor for the development of glaucoma, it is not a sufficient indicator on its own. Intraocular pressure measurement for early glaucoma detection is therefore not covered by statutory health insurance. This means that SBK cannot cover the costs of intraocular pressure measurement for early glaucoma detection. Further information can be found on the website of the
Intraocular pressure measurement is only covered by SBK if, from a medical point of view, glaucoma is suspected or a follow-up examination is necessary to monitor progress.
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