Don’t Let Glaucoma Steal
Your Vision.
 According
to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, over two million Americans
have glaucoma and more than half of them aren’t aware
of it. Glaucoma is often called the “sneak thief of sight”
because it is painless and symptoms appear slowly. In addition,
the common “puff test” has been shown to miss the
disease in one third of patients who have glaucoma (called "funny
looking"). Unfortunately, many patients remain unaware
they have the disease until it is quite advanced. Regular eye
examinations utilizing the latest technology can help you protect
your vision from glaucoma.
Answer the questions below to find out if you are at risk:
Do you have:
If you answered no to all three of the above questions, a complete
eye exam is still strongly recommended if:
- You are 20–29 years old and have never had a complete
eye exam
- You are 30–39 years old and it has been over 5 years
since your last complete eye exam
- You are 40–64 years old and it has been over 2 years
since your last complete eye exam
- You are 65 or older and it has been over a year since your
last complete eye exam
 A
better glaucoma detection technology
During our vision examination, we routinely perform the preliminary
ZEISS GDx™ Screening Test on all adults. If this test shows
borderline or abnormal results, then we will perform the full
GDx™ Exam. Most health insurance companies will allow this
extended test for early detection of glaucoma.
This significant diagnostic breakthrough has been found to provide
precise, accurate information to help diagnose glaucoma earlier,
up to 5 years before vision damage occurs, and possibly start
treatment before vision loss occurs.
The ZEISS GDx exam is safe and comfortable and takes 3 minutes
or less. The ZEISS GDx scans the retinal nerve fiber layer in
the back of the eye using polarized light and measures its thickness
at 36,000 points. No eye drops are needed.
These measurements are then mapped by computer and compared to
those of healthy, glaucoma-free patients. An abnormally thin nerve
fiber layer indicates that glaucoma may be present.
What makes the Zeiss GDx exam so revolutionary?
Unlike the puff test, the Zeiss GDx exam actually lets your doctor
see the pattern and thickness of the nerve fibers in the back
of your eyes, then compares the results to normal values. If your
nerve fibers are thinner than normal, this could indicate glaucoma
long before any vision has been lost. As a result, your doctor
will have more time to treat the disease.
How does the Zeiss GDx exam work?
The test is a quick and comfortable part of a complete eye exam.
Plus, you don’t have to have your pupils dilated. You simply
look into the Zeiss GDx system while it safely scans the back
of your eye. Total exam time usually takes less than a minute,
and the system creates easy-to-read images that your doctor can
quickly analyze.
Enhanced patient services
Including the ZEISS GDx screening and exam in our practice is
another example of our commitment to provide the most advanced
and comprehensive eyecare services. If you have any questions
about your vision or the health of your eyes, please contact our
office. We are more than happy to help with any of your eye care
needs.
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