Leading Edge Technology for Enhanced Retinal Imaging
Posted September 29, 2016
If you know us at all you know we are crazy about funky and cool frames. We love eyewear as a fashion statement and extension of personal style. Did you also know we are wild about technology? We are talking about the latest technology that improves eyecare and leads to better patient outcomes, the optomap. Stick with us here, we promise it’s amazing!
Traditional retinal imaging technology takes a picture of the back of the eye (that’s where the retina is) and this picture captures a 45 degree image of what that retina looks like. If you think back on your last eye exam this is the instrument that sets off a bright flash as it takes the picture. The new technology we recently purchased, the optomap, is able to take an image that captures a 200 degree image of the retina. That’s right, 200 degrees. With that incredible ultra-widefield digital image we are able to see important information about your eye health.
Optomap is non-invasive, doesn’t hurt, and takes the photo within a quarter of a second. To top it all off, there is no bright flash. This image is immediately available for our doctors to review. Even if there is nothing wrong with your retina at the time of the exam it provides a baseline image that can be used as you age or to compare future images, should a problem arise.
For those that do result in the detection of a disease or disorder there is good news, optomap detects conditions much earlier than conventional methods. Early detection leads to earlier treatments, better outcomes, and even the ability to save vision altogether. That is technology we can all get behind!
The level of detail of optomap images is also amazing. Our doctors are able to pull up the image on their computer and review it digitally. The can manipulate and magnify the image to see intricate details of the back of the eye. Some options include applying color filters to better view defects and zooming extremely close to areas of concern. Again, this simply was not possible with traditional retinal imaging methods.
Some of the diseases and conditions that this technology detects include macular degeneration, melanomas, glaucoma, retinal tears, and retinal detachment. All of those conditions must be caught as early as possible to be able to take an active approach towards treatment. The ability to identify these conditions is now much easier than ever before. In fact, Dr. Scott Mann learned he has small holes in his retina that he never knew about. Fortunately the holes “sealed” themselves. If not, sight-threatening complications could have resulted. This technology allows us to monitor these types of issues.
One additional aspect of this technology, which makes it even more compelling, is the story behind it’s development. In 1992 the company Optos was founded by Douglas Anderson. He did so because his 5 year old son developed a retinal detachment that was diagnosed too late, ultimately leaving him blind in one eye. He knew there had to be a better way and a diagnostic solution to catch problems earlier, leading to better outcomes. While he couldn’t save the sight of his son he was motivated by saving the sight of others. Anderson’s love for his son and personal struggles were a powerful motivator to develop improved diagnostics for children and adults alike.
Interested in seeing what this technology can do for you and your family? A comprehensive exam at both of our locations will now include the optomap. This is our new standard of care for patients. “I am extremely pleased to offer this technology to our patients,” said Dr. Mann. ““It is critical for us to adopt the best technology available to serve our patients vision needs in the most thorough and effective manner.”
Patients are encouraged to schedule their next eye exam by contacting whichever location is most convenient. We’d love for you to come in and geek-out over this amazing technology with us!