Screening for glaucoma with a non-mydriatic fundus camera.

183 first-degree relatives of glaucoma patients were photographed by a technician with non-mydriatic fundus camera in order to study the suitability of wide angle black-and-white fundus photographs in screening for glaucoma. The success rate of photography was 92%. The optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer abnormalities were evaluated from the photographs by an ophthalmologist. 31 subjects (17%) were referred to further ophthalmological examinations. We found 6 (3%) new glaucomas. In addition, in 6 patients (3%) retinal nerve fiber layer defect was the only abnormality, 5 subjects (3%) showed a hemorrhage and 2 eyes had collateral vessels as a sign of asymptomatic venous stasis change at the optic disc. Only 1 of the 6 (17%) patients with glaucoma would have been found with tonometry alone. The results of this study indicate that non-mydriatic retinal camera is a useful tool in screening for glaucoma.