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The diagnosis of glaucoma is a complicated process involving many aspects such as eye pressure measurements, the amount of peripheral vision loss, family history and other risk factors. The most important factor in diagnosing glaucoma is the evaluation of the health of the optic nerve in the eyes by its shape, size and color. One of the traditional ways to assess the health of the optic nerve is with the use of a photographic camera to document its characteristics for future comparisons. New technological advances have allowed us to obtain 3-D images of the optic nerve with the use of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT).

The HRT uses sophisiticated laser scanning and digital technology to take a 3-D image of the optic nerve and the back of the eye. This new test is quick, painless and does not require the eyes to be dilated. With this image, we are able to make objective measurements of the optic nerve and more importantly, its changes over time.

An HRT image should be performed at least once a year to assess the possible progression of glaucoma. This is a valuable tool for clinicians in diagnosing glaucoma, deciding when to initiate treatment and monitoring the effectiveness of current treatment.