Dr. Peter E. Wilcox of the Wilcox Eye Center, Hayes, said he has adopted “a new revolutionary technology” to help glaucoma patients monitor their eye pressure.

Wilcox said that eye pressure or intraocular pressure (IOP) is one of many tests provided to monitor glaucoma; however, it is the only modifiable risk factor among glaucoma patients today.

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, Wilcox said. Even though it is a slow progressing disease there is no cure and many patients live with the threat of going blind. Early detection and intervention can help decrease vision loss, he said, and glaucoma must be monitored for life.

Wilcox said the new instrument to monitor patient’s eye pressure is called the Icare HOME tonometer. Typically, one’s eye pressure is measured during 3-4 office visits throughout the year, he said. The new technology is the only device that can check eye pressure multiple times a day for weeks, months or even years while remotely sending the data to the eye doctor, he said. Self-monitoring provides additional measurements to customize glaucoma treatment

“Today I only get a snapshot of my patient’s eye pressure and I don’t know what occurs once they leave my office. I feel this technology will provide valuable information that will be utilized when making treatment decisions for my patients,” said Wilcox, whose practice is located at 2652 George Washington Memorial Highway.