Heidelberg Retinal Tomography

Equipment:

• Heidelberg Retinal Tomagraph II
• Version 3.0 Analysis Software

Procedures:

• Optic Disc Analysis
• Progression Analysis

The scanning laser ophthalmoscope is a sophisticated camera used to build up a 3-dimensional image of the optic nerve head at the back of the eye. Glaucoma will cause damage to the end of the nerve and this method is a powerful tool for detecting changes to the health of the nerve. The SLO uses a similar principal to CT scanners. It builds up a 3-d model of the nerve head by taking a series of images at different depths. The images are then recombined into a computerised model. The images are scaled to life size using keratometry information about the size of the eyeball. The computer can then analyse this information, providing us with detailed measurements of the amount of healthy nerve fibre at the back of the eye.

Though very complicated in theory, the test is very easy to do as most of the work is done by the computer. The machine scans the eye with a bright red light for a couple of seconds. Several scans are taken, and the best ones are used for analysis.

For more information about the optic nerve, click here.

 Further information about the machine and interpretation of its results can be found at www.heidelbergengineering.com.

HRT3 Glaucoma Quick Guides:

Interpreting the HRT Glaucoma Module v3 Report (Baseline OU)
Interpreting the v.3 GPS Printout - GPS
Interpreting the v.3 TCA Progression Report

HRT II Glaucoma Tutorials:

How to Read the HRT Glaucoma Printout
How to Draw the Contour Line
How to Interpret Progression
HRT II Tutorial