title: Standards of care when diagnosing or treating the glaucomas.
abstract: Negligence claims against ophthalmologists alleging failure to diagnose glaucoma have resulted in legal precedents with important clinical ramifications for optometrists. These cases have established that tonometry should be performed as a routine eye health procedure, regardless of patient age, and that suspicious findings, such as elevated intraocular pressures, should be communicated to the patient as required by the doctrine of informed consent. When treating patients with glaucoma medications, drugs should be selected that minimize the risk of injury or adverse effects, and, unless clearly contraindicated, a topical route of administration should be used for initial efforts at medical management.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Classé
mesh_terms: D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009907:Optometry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions