Gonioscopy is a clinical test that uses a special mirrored lens to view the anterior chamber angle where aqueous humour drains from the eye. It is essential in glaucoma assessment.
What it shows
The examiner can see angle structures directly.
- Relative width or narrowness of the angle
- Presence of peripheral anterior synechiae, pigmentation, or neovascularisation
- Angle recession after trauma
- Distinction between open-angle and angle-closure mechanisms
Why it matters
Findings guide diagnosis and treatment.
- Identifies patients at risk of acute angle-closure attacks
- Influences choice of therapy, such as laser iridotomy versus trabeculoplasty
- Helps detect secondary glaucomas like pigmentary, pseudoexfoliative, or neovascular glaucoma
- Should be performed by trained eye-care professionals under slit-lamp magnification
