Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) is a disease associated with normal intraocular pressure (10-21 mmHg) that may lead to irreversible blindness if misdiagnosed or left untreated over a period of time. The author observed a patient with NTG over a period of five years (from 2013-2017). The initial visual field analysis results (2014) showed mild visual field defects due to NTG at the start of the five year period. Although the patient was also diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition associated with optic nerve head damage, following years of non-compliance to treatment of NTG and follow-up eye examination schedules, the patient�?¢�?�?�?�?s visual field defects were found to have progressed by the year 2017. It is therefore important for optometrists to apply due diligence when examining patients with NTG in order to expedite intervention and prevention of visual impairment and blindness.

Biography

Hlupheka Lawrence Sithole is working as Research Training Officer at College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa.
Email:sithohl@unisa.ac.za