An essential part of your eye examination is retinal imaging. This is where we take a picture of the retina at the back of your eye, which can tell us a lot about your eye health.

What is an Optomap Retinal Scan?

Optometrists realised over a century ago that fundus photography, or photography of the back of the eye, could be important for diagnosing eye problems. It took some time to develop the first cameras capable of this, and of course, back then they were very basic. As photography advanced, so did fundus technology, with a view increasing from just 15% to 82% of the retina which we can now capture in a single image.

The first fundus cameras were gadgets that had to be strapped to the head, but now it’s much easier to take a photo of your retina. An optomap machine does all the work in just a moment. Simply position your head using the chin and headrests, keep still and follow the optometrist’s directions about where to look. Within seconds a digital image is taken and the results can be reviewed by the optometrist right away.

How optomap Technology Works

Retinal imaging is suitable for patients of all ages and we recommend it as part of our advanced eye exam. The image of your retina produced is one of the best ways to check your eye health. We use an Optos Daytona ultra-widefield camera, which scans your eye using low-powered laser technology. A high-resolution panoramic digital image is captured, covering 200° of the retina.

Advantages of Optomap Retinal Imaging

We invested in the advanced optomap ultra-widefield camera to give our patients the most comprehensive eye examination. Our optometrist can study the images produced to search for signs of eye disease. Many eye conditions can cause irreversible damage before any obvious symptoms are noticeable, but changes to the retina can indicate a problem in its early stages. With these results, we can refer the patient to an ophthalmologist for further tests and treatment.

Vision-threatening conditions that can be detected with retinal imaging include:

• Glaucoma, which causes damage to the optic nerve
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affects central vision
• Diabetic retinopathy, where the blood vessels in the retina are damaged by high blood sugar levels
• High blood pressure, which can affect the blood vessels in the retina
• Retinal detachment or tear, where the retina pulls away from its position in the eye.

Book an Advanced Eye Exam with Retinal Imaging

For peace of mind, contact us to arrange an eye exam using optomap technology. We recommend including it in every eye exam so the results can be compared and any changes noted.