Gonioscopy

Results

Gonioscopy is an eye examination to look at the front part of your eye (anterior chamber) between the cornea and the iris. During gonioscopy, the drainage angle of your eye is checked. Your doctor measures the drainage angle, its width, and checks whether it is open or closed.

Gonioscopy results

Normal:	The drainage angle appears normal, is wide open, and is not blocked.
Abnormal:	Most people with open-angle glaucoma have a large, open drainage angle. The drainage angle may be blocked so fluid does not drain from the eye.
	Scar tissue or other damage to the drainage angle is seen.
	Most people with closed-angle glaucoma have a drainage angle that is partially or completely blocked by the iris. Closed-angle glaucoma blocks the movement of fluid between the chambers of the eye.
	Other conditions that can cause glaucoma—such as an eye injury, an eye infection, breakdown and flaking off of the color pigment of the iris, or a form of closed-angle glaucoma called plateau iris syndrome—may be seen.

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Author:	Jeannette Curtis	Last Updated: April 8, 2008
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
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