Eye Testing for Alzheimer’s Disease & Multiple Sclerosis

Eye Tests for Alzheimer’s Disease & Multiple Sclerosis
If you have had a thorough eye exam and thought to be at risk for glaucoma, diabetic macular edema from diabetic retinopathy or other retinal diseases you may have had a test called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) in our office. Optical Coherence Tomography or OCT is a high technology imaging test that allows us to produce high resolution cross sectional views of the structures of your eye without ever touching it. In some ways this is analogous to CT Scans that are used to “image’ organ systems in other parts of your body. According to recent research by using OCT we may also be able to use OCT changes as “biomarkers” for diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. OCT allows us to very carefully scan nerve fibers in the retina-the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the ganglion cell layer (GCL) which are often compromised in the neurodegenerative diseases. We are carefully reviewing the research and waiting to learn if in fact in office OCT testing might be useful either in the diagnosis and/or the monitoring of Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

If you or someone you know is at risk for any type of neurodegenerative disease and has not had a comprehensive eye exam they should schedule an appointment and be sure to relay to the doctor or staff all of your concerns. Please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates offices are located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.