January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month
Untreated, This Eye Disease Can Lead to Blindness, But Through Early Detection Using St. Charles Vision’s GDX and OCT Technology, Effects of Glaucoma Can Be Stopped
Glaucoma is a common, but serious, eye disease in which damage is caused to the optic nerve (which is the connection between the eye and the brain), typically due to an increase in intra-ocular pressure. Glaucoma can lead to incurable loss of vision if left untreated.
The doctors of St. Charles Vision recommend an annual eye exam be conducted in order to not only check routine eye issues, but to also test for Glaucoma. Some of the St. Charles Vision locations offer advanced GDX and OCT testing that can detect the earliest signs of the disease some 5-7 years prior to vision loss from Glaucoma. Traditionally, Glaucoma has been tested by measuring the intra-ocular pressure in the eye, visual field analysis, and careful examination of the optic nerve. The GDX and the OCT use a laser to determine the thickness of the nerve fiber layer. This thinning of the nerve fiber layer is one of the early changes in Glaucoma. Since 50% of the people who have Glaucoma are unaware that they have it, this technology is in important in the early detection and treatment of Glaucoma. Those individuals who have a family history or are of African American/ Latino decent are at a greater risk for developing Glaucoma.
“Glaucoma is a serious disease,” stated Dr. Timothy J. Leach from the Uptown St. Charles Vision location, “In fact; it is rarely diagnosed in the beginning stages because symptoms do not arise right away. This is why we always encourage annual eye exams with the GDX and OCT Glaucoma testing. Early detection is very important in order to prevent vision loss.”
A New Orleans native, Dr. Leach earned his Doctor of Optometry Degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry in 1997, where he received extensive training in ocular disease, glaucoma, pediatric eye care and contact lenses, and completed clinical rotations at the Children’s Hospital, the VA Hospital, and the Helen Keller School for the deaf and blind. He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Optometric Glaucoma Society.
Look Forward with St. Charles Vision. We are committed to providing cutting edge advancements in eye care to our patients and to bringing the latest in fashion eyewear into the areas we serve. Our experienced, board-certified Doctors of Optometry treat all eye conditions and diseases, as well as use the latest technologies for specialty contact fittings. Offices are located in Uptown New Orleans, Metairie, Mandeville, Elmwood, Chateau and the Westbank. For more information, please visit www.stcharlesvision.com.
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