CASA Website > Avmed > Guidelines > Glaucoma / Ocular Hypertension
Glaucoma / Ocular Hypertension
Feedback
If you find any errors or omissions in these Guidelines, or feel that something in them needs to change, write to:
DameClinGuide.feedback@casa.gov.au
Please include details of the page on which you wish to provide feedback.
Thank you for your assistance in ensuring that these Guidelines are up to date and correct.
Search again
Definition
This guidance should be used for applicants with:
- Confirmed glaucoma
- Confirmed ocular hypertension with or without retinal changes
Aeromedical Implications
Effect of condition on aviation
- Visual field restricted limiting awareness of internal and external visual cues
- Acute glaucoma causing pain and visual loss
Effect of treatment on aviation
- blurring of vision
- loss of contrast sensitivity and night vision (Gtt. pilocarpine)
Approach to medical certification
Based on the condition
- Adequate visual fields
- 50+ degree monocular visual field testing. (Esterman binocular field not acceptable) Medmont binocular field test with fixation is acceptable
- no overlapping field defect
- no defect within 20 degrees of the visual axis
- total field loss less than one quadrant
Based on Treatment
- absence of side-effects from eyedrops
- contrast sensitivity normal with pilocarpine drops
Demonstrated Stability
- intraocular pressures well-controlled
- visual fields stable
Risk assessment protocol - Information required
New Cases
- Confirmed diagnosis
- Clinical status
- Investigations conducted
- results of computerised visual field plot (request 50+ deg. Binocular with fixation if available)
- Management
- Follow-up plan
Renewal
- Confirmed diagnosis
- Clinical status
- Investigations conducted
- results of computerized visual field plot (request 50+ deg. Binocular with fixation if available)
- Management
- Follow-up plan
Indicative outcomes
Favourable
- Normal visual fields
- Absence of side-effects from treatment
Unfavourable
- overlapping field defect
- a defect within 20 degrees of the visual axis
- total field loss greater than one quadrant
- profound generalised peripheral field loss
Pilot Information
- Main aviation risks are acute glaucoma and insidious onset visual field loss
- Glaucoma is an insidious and progressive cause of vision loss and blindness
- Early detection and treatment can preserve normal vision
- The National Health and Medical Research Council Glaucoma guidelines recommends regular eye examination after age 50 and earlier for those with a family history
- Following diagnosis may require regular review for up to 6 months until condition controlled
Disclaimer
The Clinical Practice Guideline is provided by way of guidance only and subject to the Clinical practice guidelines disclaimer
