Retinal Nerve Fibre Analysis/OCT Nerve fibre analysis is a newer method of glaucoma testing in which the thickness of the nerve fibre layer is measured. Thinner areas may indicate damage caused by glaucoma. This test is especially good for patients who may be considered to be a glaucoma suspect and also to indicate if a person’s glaucoma is progressively becoming worse. The OCT instrument utilizes a technique called optical
coherence tomography which creates images by use of special beams of light. The OCT machine can create a contour map of the optic nerve, optic cup and measure the retinal nerve fiber thickness. Over time this machine can detect loss of optic nerve fibers.
OCT images of a patient with glaucoma
RTVue(Optovue) for OCT
Pachymetry
Pachymetry is the method of measuring the thickness of the cornea. Corneal thickness is important because it can mask an accurate reading of eye pressure, causing doctors to treat you for a condition that may not really exist or to treat you unnecessarily when are normal. Actual IOP may be underestimated in patients with thinner CCT, and overestimated in patients with thicker CCT. Pachymetry is a simple, quick, painless test With this measurement, your doctor can better understand your IOP reading, and develop a treatment plan that is right for your condition. The procedure takes only about a minute to measure both eyes.
