Glaucoma Lab at R.P Centre

DR. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences is the apex institute in India for ophthalmic care. Glaucoma facility is one of the main pillars of R P Centre. It has been providing the best and most advanced ophthalmic care to the patients for 45 years. Glaucoma being a silent thief of sight is a disease and our centre has taken equal effort and commitment of the ophthalmologist  in educating the public about  the disease and its consequences .

Our Glaucoma facility has a unique infrastructure and is able to provide a lifelong care and follow up to patients since they are enrolled in our glaucoma clinic. We have 3 eminent faculty members in charge of the glaucoma services, with 3 glaucoma clinics a week and a glaucoma facility lab which runs all week days. Our specialty glaucoma clinic on an average provides services to     2500 new patients and 6300 old patients. Residents assist the faculty members in providing necessary care to the glaucoma patients. The glaucoma lab has 3 optometrists  trained in ophthalmic investigations, especially pertaining to glaucoma .

The faculty in new glaucoma clinic confirms the diagnosis of glaucoma and initiates the treatment for the patients who were screened and referred from outpatient department. These patients are then followed up in the old glaucoma clinic as required. The glaucoma lab has all the advanced diagnostic modalities namely HRT. GDx,HVF,GVF,OCT,ASOCT, UBM, tonometer,keratometer, pachymeter.

Investigative modalities available at R.P.Centre:

1.Tonometry:  this is a method to measure the intra ocular pressure. It can be done with various instruments each of which has its own limitations. Goldmann  applanation tonometer is the gold standard modality. Every  year approximately  16000 patients undergo this investigation at the glaucoma lab.

2. Pachymetry: this is a method to measure the  corneal thickness.  it helps to correctly estimate the intraocular pressure as it confounding factors which influences the pressure measured. On  an average 5000 patients undergo this investigation every year.

3.Visual fields: Humphrey visual field examination is usually preferred to evaluate the patients who show progression in visual field defects over the years of followup and to tailor the treatment. Around 5400 patients obtain their visual field examination once or twice a year as advised by treating ophthalmologist every year. SWAP is another modality of visual field examination we have at our centre and approximately 50-100 patients obtain it yearly as per the indications.

4.Optic nerve head evaluation: it comprises of two aspects –  the analysis of retinal nerve fiber loss and change in optic disc tomography.  These investigative modalities help to diagnose glaucoma’s before a visual field loss ensues . The different modalities are OCT( optical coherence tomography); GDx or the scanning laser polarimetryand HRT ( Heidelberg Retina Tomograph) or a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Around 4800 patients undergo HRT and 2000 patients undergo GDx and 3000 undergo OCT yearly at the glaucoma lab.

5.Ultrasound biomicroscopy and Anterior segment OCT:  These are new real time operating modalities with help to dynamically in vivo image the anterior segment of the eye and provide its anatomical and physiological  changes. Yearly 360 patients undergo either of these investigations which helps in the diagnosis of pathophysiology of glaucoma..