Glaucoma is described as one of the biggest causes of blindness in the world. The irreversible blindness happens as a result of the degeneration and loss of apoptosis - retina cells located at the back of the eye.
In most cases, spotting glaucoma is a tricky affair and is often detected at a stage when the patient has already lost most of his/her ability to see. Early detection is therefore paramount to treat the ailment and prevent patients from losing sight completely. "Most patients have lost a third of vision by the time they are diagnosed," Francesca Cordeiro, professor at UCL, reported by PTI.
"Treatment is much more successful when it is begun in early stages of the disease, when sight loss is minimal. Our developments mean we could diagnose patients 10 years earlier than was previously possible," said Philip Bloom, Western Eye Hospital in the UK. The study was published in the journal Brain.
The study was published in the journal Brain and stated that the examination uses equipment used during routine hospital eye examinations. Researchers hope that eventually it may be possible for opticians to conduct the tests, enabling even earlier detection of the disease.
