Early diagnosis is key to minimising, as much as possible, loss of vision from ocular disease. Undoubtedly, high resolution technology helps a skilled practitioner diagnose sooner. Equipment used in our practices include but are not limited to;
Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) ~ Provides retinal and corneal imaging at up to 5 microns resolution. This technology is invaluable for early diagnosis of many ocular diseases, including glaucoma, wet vs dry age related macula degeneration (ARMD), epi-retinal membrane (ERM) and vitreo-macula traction (VMT). At this stage, probably due to its expense, it is still not seen routinely in optometric practice.
Corneal Topographer ~ A high resolution 3D corneal mapping tool. Essential in the early diagnosis of many anterior eye diseases, including keratoconus and astigmatism in its various forms. Also indispensable for Ortho-K and precision fitting of gas-permeable contact lenses in their various forms.
High resolution digital retinal camera ~ Provides a quick and precise record of retinal health. The retina is a complex nerve layer, and like a fingerprint it is thought no two retinas are the same. We first started taking retinal photographs routinely for teenagers and adults in 2006 as we believed it was the most precise method of recording the condition of the retina and detecting microscopic change as early as possible.
Computerised visual field analysis ~ Not only allows precise mapping of the peripheral retina but also in depth assessment of the visual cortex and pathways in the brain. Damage to the visual cortex may occur as a result of trauma, stroke, tumours and a variety of general health and neurological diseases.