Optomap® Retinal Exam

Optomap® Retinal Examinations (“Optomap®”), provide eye-care practitioners with clinically useful information that facilitates the early detection of disorders and diseases evidenced in the retina.

The Optomap® retinal image gives eye-care professionals a much larger view (200 degrees) of the back of the eye – your retina – than conventional eye exam equipment. The images can be taken without dilating your pupils – a very common procedure which is uncomfortable and inconvenient for many people.

The Optomap® image is captured in less than a second and is immediately available for doctor and patient to review. The Optomap® Retinal Exam offers many clinical, practice and patient benefits. The Optomap® image is displayed immediately after being taken, allowing the eye care professional to review it quickly and if necessary, refer you to a retinal specialist. Using the internet, the image can be sent anywhere in the world for a specialist to review.

Each Optomap® image is as individual as fingerprints or DNA and can provide eye care professionals with a unique view of your health very quickly and comfortably. The Optomap® image is captured in less than one second and is immediately available for you and your doctor to review. The Optomap® retinal image offers many advantages including:

• An ultra-wide field view of the retina
• Comfortable and quick image capture
• Non-invasive
• Helps you understand your eye health
• Provides permanent records for future comparison
• The Optomap® technology does not require pupil dilation, however the decision to dilate or not is a medical decision to be made by your health care professional
• Patient can resume normal activities immediately

Conditions of the Retina

What is diabetic retinopathy and who is at risk? What is macular degeneration and how do you treat it? To maintain the health of your eyes, regular exams are important. Eye exams allow for early detection of various eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Since many of these conditions develop without symptoms, they are often first discovered during a comprehensive eye examination. With early detection and appropriate treatment these and other conditions may be corrected or minimized, and the severity of potential vision loss can be reduced.

Learn more about the following Conditions
	Age-related Macular Degeneration A leading cause of blindness in older people is a condition called age-related macular degeneration. The macula is located in the center of the retina (back of the eye) and is responsible for the sharp, central vision needed to see straight ahead. Aging can cause the macula to slowly degenerate and reduce central vision in people over 50 years of age. It is estimated that 8.5% of individuals between 43-54 years and 36.8% of those over 75 years have some degree of macular degeneration. Learn More.
	Diabetic Retinopathy Approximately 5.7 million people in the United States have diabetes, which is a leading cause of blindness, yet only half of these individuals know they have the disease. Bleeding inside the eye may be the first sign of its presence. The major cause of blindness in people with diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy, a term used for all the abnormalities of the small blood vessels of the retina caused by diabetes. Learn More.
	Retinal Detachment The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the inside of the eye and sends visual messages through the optic nerve to the brain. When the retina detaches, it is lifted or pulled from its normal position. If not promptly treated, a retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss. Anyone can get a retinal detachment; however, they are far more common in nearsighted people, those over 50, those who have had significant eye injuries, and those with a family history of retinal detachments. Learn More.
	Glaucoma An estimated 1.6 million individuals over 40 years of age in the United States have glaucoma, and the risk increases significantly with age. Sadly, approximately half of these people don’t know they have the disease. Almost every case of glaucoma develops without symptoms. Long-standing glaucoma without treatment can lead to severe vision loss. Early detection and treatment can reduce the severity of vision loss. Learn More.