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Technology Update
Slit Lamp Camera (?)
Yes, that is our exam room and yes, that is a picture of an eye taken with and iPad. To be more precise, the iPad is mounted on a custom microscope adaptor which allows the patient's eye to be viewed and photographed or even "videoed" on the screen of an iPad. At this point, if we are following a growth or infection on the surface of an eye, we can take a picture and print out the picture for more precise measurements and evaluations. The picture can then be stored in the chart for future comparisons. What we anticipate being able to do in the near future is to store the digital image of the eye in a medical records App, much like we are able to store the digital images that we take of the back of the eye. Or, if you just want a cool 4x6 picture of your eye to put on your refrigerator, let us know and we're happy to oblige!
Topographer
Another brand new instrument in our office is a topographer. A topographer measures the variations in curvature on the surface of the eye. This is an extremely useful instrument when it comes to evaluating patients that have had some type of refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK, RK). It is also helpful in fitting patients that require complex gas permeable (or hard) contact lenses. One type of complex gas permeable contact lens option that we will highlight in our next newsletter is call Orthokeratology.
Progressives
For most presbyopic patients, progressive (or no-lines) are a great option for day-to-day use. However, some patients that spend hours on end at the computer throughout the day find the "computer zone" of the progressives a bit limiting. We now have an option for such patients that widens the intermediate (or computer) zone in the progressives, while still providing a little extra magnification for smaller near work and about 4-5 feet of distance viewing so that they can see somebody that walks into the office without removing the glasses.
The top image is of a "normal" progressive with its wider distance viewing area and narrower computer and reading areas. The bottom image is the aforementioned "computer" progressive. Again, a computer progressive is a great option for those that spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 3+ hours continually looking at a computer screen throughout the day.
While the Unity CVx (above) computer progressive has been a very successful lens for our patients, I'm a bit more cautiously optimistic about a new Golf Progressive. A lot of golfers opt to play in single vision lenses which allow them to see 250 yards down the fairway, but ultimately do not provide any reading correction to help look at a score card. Apparently a new Golf Progressive provides golfers with the best of both worlds and can even be specially tinted. I'll keep you posted on the success of this lens as we try out this great concept in reality.
Sorry for the blurry image, hopefully it's not indicative of vision with this lens :)
OPTOS Digital Retinal Images
The OPTOS (or Optomap) is by no means "new" technology in our practice, but it never hurts to revisit the benefits of this camera. The OPTOS provides our doctors with a much larger view of the back of the eye, specifically of the peripheral retina, WITHOUT dilation. This is a great screening instrument that can aide in early detection of retinal diseases like macular degeneration, retinal detachments, and even freckles at the back of the eye. In some cases, the OPTOS has even helped us diagnose general health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes if a patient has not had a recent physical and such diseases have progressed to concerning stages. We strongly recommend OPTOS images for ALL new patients (even kids) and then every 2-3 years for existing patients, or yearly if we are following an abnormality.
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