Eyecare Greengate

	Glaucoma


				Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness throughout the world affecting millions of people. It is a disease of the eye that causes damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the pathway that carries the images we see to the brain. If left untreated, the disease can destroy the optic nerve leading to loss of vision. We detect glaucoma using specialized tests. One of those tests being the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph test. This is a system that combines a laser scanning camera and specialized software that evaluates the optic nerve. The HRT may diagnose glaucoma years before symptoms become apparent to the patient. The HRT gives measurements of size, depth and shape of the optic nerve and is especially useful at detecting small changes over time. There are some factors that increase a person’s risk. Those include increasing age, African-American Heritage, high blood pressure, family history, diabetes, nearsightedness, long-term steroid treatment and injury or trauma to the eye. Let our doctors know if you think you may at risk. We will take the proper steps and precautions to help you.