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HRT Nerve Fiber Analyzer is a new exam that may help to physicians to detect earlier changes and more sensitive objective changes to individuals who may have or have glaucoma. The test is objective, and fast. More than that, the HRT is able to determine if you have glaucoma prior to your experiencing any vision loss. (Click image for larger version.)
Intraocular pressures are only one way of detecting glaucoma. Many individuals have glaucoma with normal pressures and also need to be treated. Another test which is used to detect glaucoma is perimetry (visual field) testing which measures vision already lost. Often this test is used to follow the progression of glaucoma. This test is based on the patients responses. Some tests can be unreliable. The GDx exam offers another method by which glaucoma can be evaluated and followed. The test is very fast and usually takes less than 5 minutes. The pupil does not have to be dilated and the results can be obtained quickly. The chin is supported and the patient looks straight ahead and focuses on the light indicated. A very safe, invisible laser scans the back of the eye and acquires an image in less than one second. The only other way we have of evaluating the nerve is by dilating the patient and looking at the details of the optic nerve head.

What the Exam Shows
The exam from the GDx prints a color coded "thickness map" of the nerve fiber layer at the back of your eye. This information can assist the doctor to get objective values on the early changes which may help to determine if you have glaucoma. It also helps to follow patients who have already been diagnosed with glaucoma.

Normal Eye:

The bright colors represent a thick nerve fiber layer, darker colors depict areas where the nerve fiber layer is thinner. The blue color is normally seen at the 3 and 6 o\'clock position. The 12 and 6 o\'clock positions should show bright colors (reds and yellows.) (Click on image for larger version.)

Glaucoma:

The thickness map is dark, indicating thinning of the nerve fiber layer. In this picture, the nerve is represented by the circle. Around the nerve however the color is all blue. This represents a very thin nerve fiber layer in the 360 degrees. This individual has very advanced nerve fiber layer loss and is consistent with advanced glaucoma. (Click on image for larger version.)
How the Exam is Used

The GDx can be used to track the progression of eye disease and it can help to determine if you have glaucoma. The GDx can be used on periodic times during the year to see if there are any changes which have not been seen on the visual field or through the dilated examination when evaluating the optic nerve head. Patients who are at risk for glaucoma should have a GDx done as a baseline in conjunction with a thorough eye examination by a physician. For a definition of at risk patients, please click here. Insurance The GDx is covered by Medicare in the state of Illinois and by most insurance companies. Please ask for payment options if your insurance doesn’t cover the exam, or if you have no insurance. (Excerpts of this document taken from Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc, GDx pamphlet copyright 1998.)
Check back soon for more information

Dr. Olivier accepts most insurances like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Travelers, Cigna, Aetna, CNA, Humana, as well as Medicare. When you visit our office you will be asked to complete a form with insurance information. On the next page you see a copy of this form that you can print and fill out at home. Please bring it with you to the office. In addition to this form, please bring the following to your appointment:

  • your glasses
  • all medications you are currently taking from any doctor
  • all over the counter medications your are currently taking
  • your sun glasses, because your eyes will be dilated
  • someone to accompany you during your first visit
  • your insurance card(s)
  • any referrals if needed from your primary care physician
To make an appointment or ask about our fees, call us at 847-882-5848 . For information about office hours and the various office locations visit our contact page.

During the exam Dr. Mildred M.G. Olivier will use a variety of technology to give you as complete of a glaucoma evaluation and consultation as possible. New technologies such as the GDx allow her to determine if you have glaucoma prior to you experiencing any vision loss. It also gives her a baseline by which to follow the progression of glaucoma for individuals already diagnosed. Other reliable technologies such as the Humphrey visual field machine allow Dr. Olivier to determine and measure vision which has already been lost. She can also track progression of a disease with this technology. The perimetry (visual field) examination is the standard used for detecting and evaluating glaucoma.

In some cases, when an individual has been be referred to Dr. Olivier for a glaucoma evaluation the exam may indicate that another specialist is required. Often a Neuro-ophthalmologist (trained in the area of neurology (brain) and ophthalmology (eye) may be required to help determine if the visual field changes are consistent with problems in the brain. We are fortunate to have Dr. Patricia Davis to evaluate patients in the same office. Appointments for Dr. Davis can be made at the time of your departure. She is the only Neuro-ophthalmologist in the Northwest suburbs. Dr. Davis is a board-certified, highly qualified physician who works closely with Dr. Olivier. Many other ophthalmologists in the area refer similar cases to Dr. Davis.

AAO http://www.aao.org/haiti/blog-05.cfm
AMA  
Prevent Blindness  
Commission Health Disparities