INSTRUMENTS FOR EARLY DETECTION OF GLAUCOMA

For years the "glaucoma test" was considered to be the measurement of intra ocular pressure whether it was done with an "air puff" instrument or by one of the many applanation instruments on the market. Later, the importance of measuring visual fields (side vision testing) and thorough optic nerve evaluation became known. However, thousands of cases of glaucoma were still being misdiagnosed or not found early enough to prevent serious vision loss. For this reason, glaucoma has become the second leading cause of blindness in the United States today.

Over the past few years, several studies have been done to show the importance of three additonal tests in early diagnosis of glaucoma. In an effort to provide the latest technology and best possible care to our patients we have added the following instruments/tests to our office.

PACHYMETRY - A quick, painless, test that measures the thickness of the cornea, which has been found to effect the accurate measurement of intra ocular pressure and the eye's ability to withstand that pressure.

NERVE FIBER ANALYSIS - The GDx VCC Nerve Fiber Analyzer uses scanning laser technology to measure retinal damage from glaucoma. The test is comfortable, does not require eye drops or pupil dilation and provides results in minutes. Retinal nerve fiber damage can be measured up to six years before it can be detected with visual fields and unlike visual fields, it does not require subjective patient responses.

OCULAR BLOOD FLOW ANALYZER - The OBFA is also a quick, painless test that measures what level of intra ocular pressure the blood vessels serving the optic nerve can withstand before becoming partially collapsed and causing decreased blood flow to the nerve. This can be especially helpful in diagnosing patients who have "normal tension glaucoma". This is a difficult type of glaucoma to diagnose where vision is lost in eyes that have intra ocular pressures within what is generally considered to be the normal range.