FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS FOR GLAUCOMA

Three essential elements of a glaucoma eye examination are:
Measuring eye pressure
Examining the optic disc
Visual fields testing

Here are some further investigations you might experience:

Photography

Stereo photography and red free photography

Gonioscopy

'Gonioscopy' is when the angle of your eye is measured. Most people will be aware that there are two common types of glaucoma - open angle glaucoma and acute closed angle glaucoma. But what does the term angle actually mean? It refers to an area of your eye which is probably best described as the plug hole out of which the fluid known as the aqueous drains. The angle is actually inside the eye and it is located between the iris and the cornea. There are a number of reasons why it is important to have the angle examined in certain types of glaucoma.

Scanning of the optic disc and nerve fibre layer (HRT, OCT, GDx)

Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT)

The Heidelberg Retina Tomograph is a scanning laser ophthalmoscope that allows 3-dimensional imaging of the optic nerve. The HRT utilises a special light in a camera, which is safe to the eye. Thirty-two cross sections of the optic nerve head are acquired and the result is a colour-coded surface map of the optic nerve head. Several different measurements are produced to help the doctor determine whether there has been some damage to the optic nerve due to glaucoma. The HRT is useful for monitoring changes over time.

Measurement of Central Corneal Thickness

(This page is currently under development)