Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve. It is a leading cause of blindness in the United States.
Often there are no symptoms at first. Without treatment, people with glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral, or side, vision. They seem to be looking through a tunnel. Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.
There are several types of glaucoma. The main type in the United States is open-angle, accounting for at least 90 percent of all glaucoma cases and affecting close to 80 million people around the world.
High pressure open-angle glaucoma is caused by the slow clogging of the drainage canals, resulting in increased eye pressure. It develops slowly, unnoticed, and is a lifelong condition.
Various tests are used to determine the diagnosis and to monitor the progression of glaucoma.
The tonometer measures the pressure in the eye.
Visual field tests are used to look for and measure any vision loss in the peripheral and central field of vision.
The Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) uses light to create a cross-sectional image of the back of the eye. It's used to look for and to monitor optic nerve tissue loss from glaucoma.
The Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM) is a cutting-edge test that uses high-frequency ultrasound to image the anterior segment of the eye, especially some areas that cannot be imaged by any other technology. Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region is the first eye care facility in the state of New York to use this state-of-the-art technology outside of New York City.