A retinal exam is an extremely important part of many standard eye care appointments. Optomap ultra-widefield retinal imaging makes it simpler than ever for us to acquire a broad image of your retina – all with very little hassle and no discomfort on your end.
When we examine the retina, we are looking at the thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. It is so thin, in fact, that we can see the blood vessels that run through it.
The retina, then, provides us a very useful window into detecting possible problems with your health. Signs of a potential eye condition can appear in a retinal examination well before they show up in other ways. Additionally, early symptoms of circulatory damage due to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other conditions can also be detected.
A retinal exam can provide one of the earliest opportunities to discover a problem. The sooner such problems are diagnosed and addressed, the less of a potential impact they can have on your vision and overall health.
In the past, a standard undilated retinal exam could only provide us a limited view of the retina – about 15% of the total retina in the back of the eye. Any potential problems that existed beyond this field of vision would be difficult to detect, without using drops to dilate the pupils.
The Optomap imaging device is able to capture a much wider view of the retina – about 82% of the total layer. That’s more than 5 times the coverage, again without having to go through much (if any) additional trouble.
An Optomap imaging exam is as simple as looking into the device. Look through the hole, one eye at a time, and a flash of light will capture the image of your retina. The capture takes about half a second and nothing will touch your eye at any time during the test.
It may not be necessary to dilate your pupils for this exam. However, there are some situations where we may recommend dilation to ensure the best results.
At Mattawan Family Eye Care, we want to ensure we are taking the best preventative actions for your family’s eye health without causing any inconvenience. Optomap fits into our mission perfectly.
Schedule an appointment with us by calling (269) 668-5558 or by filling out our online contact form.
