What does glaucoma look like?

A lay person typically cannot detect open angle glaucoma, according to the National Eye Institute and WebMD. In some cases of glaucoma, however, the eye is red and may appear hazy in an infant. Vision loss or pain in the eye may occur, and nausea and vomiting may be present.

An opthalmologist uses a dilated eye exam to see into the patient's eye, says the NEI. He uses a magnifying glass to look at the patient's retina and optic nerve to see whether or not they have suffered any damage. He also uses visual acuity and field tests to check the patient's distance and peripheral vision and tonometry to measure the pressure in the eye. He also uses pachymetry to check the thickness of his patient's cornea.