According to the National Library of Medicine, “Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only proven means to slow or halt disease progression, as shown by studies of those at high risk of developing glaucoma.”

Considered a “group” of eye conditions because there are a handful of different types, glaucoma is characterized by damage to the optic nerve caused by high pressure in the eye, or intraocular pressure (IOP), often caused by fluid build-up inside the eye. The optic nerve is essential for sight, thus severe damage to the optic nerve can cause visual impairment and blindness.

Glaucoma is generally thought to be caused by a blockage to the mesh-like channels through which the fluid in your eye called aqueous humor flows naturally. When those channels are blocked, the pressure in your eye builds up, and the optic nerve can be damaged. Experts are not entirely sure what causes the blockage, genetics, injury, or infection all may be possible contributors, but all experts agree that early detection of increased IOP is the best way to prevent further damage.

Ocular Response Analyzer

The Ocular Response Analyzer is an optometrist’s secret weapon when looking to measure IOP, and it is one of the three tools used by your eye doctor in the first part of your eye exam. The Ocular Response Analyzer is an instrument designed to assess the blood pressure of the eye and biomechanical properties of the retina quickly, accurately, and efficiently.

This revolutionary machine is completely non-invasive and painless. The device utilizes a rapid puff of air to apply force to the cornea. The air causes the cornea to move inwards. The puff itself, and your eye’s reaction to it both occur in mere milliseconds. The machine monitors and measures the reaction of your cornea to the puff of air, takes the average of the two pressure values, the pressure inwards, and the return to normal pressure outwards, and uses that information to determine your intraocular pressure.

Oh, but wait, there’s more! The Ocular Response Analyzer not only measures your IOP, but also measures your Corneal Hysteresis (CH). Corneal Hysteresis is a measure of the of the cornea’s ability to absorb and dissipate energy.

Corneal Hysteresis is considered an even greater predictor of glaucoma progression, even more so than the IOP, and the Ocular Response Analyzer measures your CH as well, providing your eye doctor with unprecedented and indispensable information used in early detection and ultimately treatment of glaucoma.

Retinal Imaging – The DRSPlus

The third and final tool in the optometrist’s toolbox in this series is called the DRSPlus, and it’s basically an incredible camera! We’ll take a good look at the pictures it can take and what your eye doctor can see in those pictures next month.

In the meantime, reach out to your eye doctor to set up an appointment and get your puff of air and personal IOP!