Glaucoma Screening
At Dr Roelof’s practice we offer both field tests and optical coherence tomography (OCT) services to screen for glaucoma.
Each patient’s treatment plan will depend on the specific type of glaucoma, the severity of the disease and how well it responds to treatment.
Field tests
The purpose of a field test is to measure how well your visual field (VF) performs clinically.
We apply several methods to measure your visual fields. Most of these tests are done one eye at a time, while the opposite eye is completely covered. This is done to avoid errors in testing. At our practice we also have modern visual field testing devices which continuously monitor fixation.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
At our practice we apply Optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a screening test. This is a non-invasive imaging test that uses light waves to take cross-section pictures of your Retina.
With OCT, each of the Retina’s distinctive layers can be seen. This allows Dr Roelof to map and measure the thickness of the Retina’s layers. These measurements assist him in his diagnosis and to establish a guide to treatment for the patient with glaucoma.
What happens during OCT?
One of our qualified nurses will assist you to take a seat in front of the OCT machine. You will rest your head on a support to keep it motionless. The equipment will then scan your eye without touching it. The scanning takes about 5 to 10 minutes. If your eyes were dilated, they may be sensitive to light for several hours after the screening exam.
