How Oct Is Making Earlier Glaucoma Diagnosis Possible

Glaucoma is irreversible and therefore early diagnosis is crucial. Unfortunately, about 50% of people with glaucoma are still undiagnosed and completely unaware of their disease.

This often happens because the disease rarely causes notable symptoms until the optic nerve sustains serious damage — and also, because many people don’t have the regular comprehensive eye exams they need.

At Berks Eye Physicians & Surgeons, we provide complete eye care in our conveniently-located Wyomissing, PA, facility. Our team utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, including optical coherence tomography (OCT,) to provide comprehensive glaucoma assessments.

It’s one of the most advanced tools for diagnosing and monitoring glaucoma because it allows for detailed imaging of the eye’s internal structures.

Understanding Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

OCT is a noninvasive imaging scan that provides high-resolution, cross-sectional retina and optic nerve images. It works similarly to ultrasound but uses light waves instead of sound waves.

For the OCT process, a focused beam of light scans the retina. It calculates the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). Thinning within this layer of the retina is one of the earliest indicators of glaucoma.

Advantages of OCT in Glaucoma Diagnosis

Traditional glaucoma screening methods, such as measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual field testing, are useful but may not detect the disease early enough.

OCT provides a more precise and proactive approach. This scan can identify early structural damage before noticeable vision loss occurs. The vision scan is quick and painless.

How OCT Improves Glaucoma Treatment

Once glaucoma is diagnosed, the main goal is lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) and preventing further optic nerve damage.

OCT helps guide treatment decisions by providing valuable information on disease progression.

Our doctors use OCT to establish baseline measurements and then refer to these measurements at each subsequent OCT scan. We can use precise, real-time data to guide your treatment plans.

This information is crucial in creating and adapting treatment plans ranging from glaucoma eye drops to laser treatment. In addition, OCT scans help our doctors determine whether you need minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) to preserve your vision.

OCT Glaucoma Diagnosis and Monitoring in Reading

Berks Eye Physicians & Surgeons offers the latest advanced glaucoma diagnostics, including OCT, to ensure our patients get the highest standard of comprehensive eye care. Our Wyomissing, PA, office serves the entire Reading area and meets all your eye care needs. Call 610-372-0712 to schedule your glaucoma evaluation.