| The optomap Retinal Exam provides a panoramic | | | | further investigation. |
| view of the back of a person's eye (the retina). | | | | When comparing the doctor's view of your eye |
| The view provided by the optomap displays up to | | | | through an undilated pupil, with an instrument |
| 80% of the retina without dilating the patient's | | | | called a direct ophthalmoscope, approximately |
| eyes. | | | | 10% of the retinal fundus is viewable. However, |
| How Does the Optomap Work | | | | to attain this view requires a cooperative patient |
| The patient places their eye to be photographed | | | | with good fixation. A wider view is achieved, |
| up to the instrument and the doctor's assistant | | | | through a dilated pupils, with an instrument that is |
| positions the patient for a photograph and takes | | | | worn on the doctor's head called a binocular |
| the picture. The optomap captures its image in | | | | indirect ophthalmoscope (BIO). To attain this wider |
| only 1/4 of a second. The photographer takes | | | | view, requires a cooperative patient, with good |
| two photos and evaluates the images. If the | | | | fixation and 20 minutes to allow the drops to |
| images look good the same thing is repeated on | | | | dilate the pupils. The patient's eyes will remain |
| the second eye. The image captured allows the | | | | dilated for 4 to 6 hours and they may experience |
| doctor to view up to 80% of the retinal fundus | | | | some blurriness during that time. By having the |
| at one time. The image may be magnified or | | | | patient look in different directions, while the doctor |
| manipulated for a better view. Written notes can | | | | readjusts his or her light and a lens that they hold |
| accompany the image file should it need to be | | | | in their hand, the view given by the binocular |
| emailed to the patient or another doctor. Different | | | | indirect ophthalmoscope can be increased to |
| wavelengths of laser light used to take the image | | | | almost 100% of the retinal fundus. One of the |
| can be filtered allowing different layers of the | | | | biggest advantages of a dilated retinal fundus |
| retina to be evaluated. | | | | exam with a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope is |
| Why is This Better Than Dilation | | | | that it allows the doctor to see the fundus in 3D |
| The optomap is not necessarily better than | | | | or a "stereo view". A good retinal camera will |
| dilation. The optomap Retinal Exam is a great tool | | | | allow the examiner to see about 30% of the |
| to use in addition to dilation or when a patient | | | | back of a patient's eye at one time. By taking |
| can't, or does not want to be dilated. | | | | numerous images and piecing them together up |
| In some cases the view provided by the | | | | to 60% of the fundus is viewable with a retinal |
| optomap is superior to that of pupil dilation. For | | | | camera. |
| example, a patient that is very light sensitive will | | | | For Whom is the Optomap Recommended |
| often refuse to have their pupils dilated because | | | | The short answer is almost everyone is a good |
| of the pain they experience due to the bright | | | | candidate for the optomap Retinal Exam. We find, |
| lights. The dilated view afforded the doctor of a | | | | however, that some of the best candidates for |
| very photosensitive patient is often poor because | | | | the optomap are those patients that can't or |
| it is difficult for the patient to keep their eyes | | | | don't want to be dilated, children, anyone with a |
| open or to look in the appropriate direction. The | | | | history of retinal problems and people that are |
| optomap captures an image with a brief flash that | | | | light sensitive. |
| even light sensitive patients do not object to, | | | | It is in the best interest of your ocular health to |
| allowing the to doctor view the results without | | | | have a retinal eye health evaluation during your |
| discomfort to the patient. The optomap allows for | | | | yearly eye exam that is more comprehensive |
| a more comfortable retinal exam. The optomap | | | | than a traditional, undilated eye exam. Both the |
| can be used as a retinal health screening tool, | | | | the optomap Retinal Exam and a dilated eye |
| allowing the doctor to focus the dilated retinal | | | | exam meet that standard. |
| exam on areas that require a better view or | | | | |