Optomap Retinal Exam
Eye Exams Without Dilation
The Optomap 200 provides a panoramic view of the back of a person's eye (the retina). The view provided by the Optomap displays almost 80% of the retina.
How Does the Optomap Work
The patient places their eye to be photographed up to the instrument and the doctor's assistant positions the patient for a photograph and takes the picture. The Optomap captures its image in only 1/4 of a second. The photographer takes two photos and evaluates the images. If the images look good the same thing is repeated on the second eye.
Why is This Better Than Dilation
The Optomap is not necessarily better than
dilation it is a great tool to use in addition to dilation or when a
patient can't, or doesn't want to be dilated.
In some cases the view provided by the Optomap is superior to that of pupil dilation. For example, a patient that is very light sensitive will often refuse to have their pupils dilated because of the pain they experience. The dilated view of a very photosensitive patient is often poor because it is difficult for the patient to keep their eyes open or to look in the appropriate direction. The Optomap captures an image with a brief flash that even light sensitive patients do not object to, allowing the doctor view the results without torturing the patient with bright lights. The Optomap allows for a more comfortable retinal exam.
For Whom is the Optomap Recommended
The short answer is almost everyone is a good candidate for the Optomap. We find, however that, some of the best candidates for the Optomap are those patients that can't or don't want to be dilated, children, anyone with a history of retinal problems and people that are light sensitive, just to name a few.