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Presenter: Structural, functional assessment both important in glaucoma
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SAN DIEGO – “We almost always need to combine structural and functional information – and every other bit of available information – when making glaucoma diagnosis and treatment decisions,” Murray Fingeret, OD, said during a presentation here at Optometry’s Meeting.
Visual field or visual function loss occurs in the later stages of glaucoma, Fingeret said. Once optical coherence tomography was established as an important tool in eye care in the mid 2000s, it became apparent that nerve fiber layer changes occurred first, and visual field change comes later.
“Eight years ago the American Academy of Ophthalmology in their preferred practice guidelines for glaucoma made a bold change in their definition of glaucoma to include optic neuropathy and noted that field loss was a somewhat later issue,” he said. “As we look more and more at evaluating nerves, that’s pretty true.”
A combined approach is important, Fingeret said.
“Honing our clinical observation skills will further this goal,” he continued. “Automated imaging devices have come of age, and combined structure-function analyses using their results are now possible. Work over the past 2 years strongly suggests that these combined analyses of automated data will be very helpful.”