Nerve Fiber Layer Analyzer

• Glaucoma is a disease that causes impaired vision or blindness in more than 3 million Americans.  Thousands of new cases are diagnosed each year.  Elevated pressure in the eye, family history, age and race are among the risk factors.  There is no cure for glaucoma, but with early detection and treatment it can usually be controlled.

• Eye doctors use several methods to determine if you have glaucoma.  Pressure checks, visual field testing and viewing the back of your eye are some of the methods used.

• A new instrument, called a Nerve Fiber Layer Analyzer (NFL), is now being used by our office to detect glaucoma in its earliest stage.  This device also allows us to monitor very precisely how well the glaucoma is under control in someone with a known, or established, condition.

• The NFL uses a laser, and in many ways is similar to a CAT scan.  It acquires over 20 images (and over 1.3 million bits of information) of the optic nerve in less than one second and uses a powerful computer to gather and analyze the data.  All of this information is used to assess the current state of your optic nerve.

• There are no bright flashes when the NFL is used and there is no pain or discomfort.  In most cases, your eyes do not need to be dilated.  On future visits, the computer compares images and records any changes which will aid your doctor is choosing the best treatment for you.

• If you have glaucoma, or are at an increased risk for glaucoma, please feel free to discuss the importance of this test with your doctor.  It normally takes less than five minutes per eye to perform and often gives valuable insight into your treatment.

• If you would like to view a sample of the information that the NFL gives please click here.