How Can Digital Retinal Imaging Protect Your Vision?

Retinal imaging, a non-invasive assessment, offers our eye doctors a comprehensive view of the intricate structures at the back of your eye, i.e., your retina. This imaging technology is pivotal in understanding and safeguarding your eye health by capturing digital images of the retina, optic disc, and blood vessels.

Learn more about digital retinal imaging and exactly how it can benefit your vision and eye health.

Understanding retinal imaging

If you opt to include advanced retinal imaging as part of your comprehensive eye exam, we can carry out two types: Optomap scanning and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).

The Optomap scan offers a 200-degree panoramic view of the retina and surrounding structures, offering a broad but detailed overview of your eye health. To put it into context, a traditional fundus photo which is part of a comprehensive eye exam only shows 45 degrees of your retina, meaning everything else surrounding that view can’t be observed.

This gives room for a lot of early signs of eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration that may become more serious later to go unnoticed until they have already advanced and have started to cause vision problems, as well as acute issues like retinal detachments, which need immediate medical attention.

The scan is non-invasive and only takes seconds to complete, with instant results available to assess, discuss with you and store in your patient record. All you’ll have to do is sit in front of the Optomap machine, place your head on a chin rest, and look into the viewfinder one eye at a time so the machine can scan them.

If we notice anything abnormal that needs further investigation, the OCT scan is our go-to. It utilizes light waves to capture 3D cross-sectional images of the retina, providing detailed insights into all its layers and allowing us to measure the thickness of each one and examine the optic nerve. This helps us detect the smallest changes or anomalies, pinpointing their exact location and size.

Having an OCT scan means our eye doctors can diagnose various eye conditions in their early stages, often well before you experience any symptoms or irreversible damage occurs.

Again, this scan is painless, non-invasive, and only takes around 50 seconds. Our optometrists may need to dilate your eyes in some cases for a better view.

OCT images of the retina are produced instantly, meaning we can assess them immediately and discuss them with you. We can also store the results in your record, which makes it easier to compare scan results and track any changes from one visit to the next.

What are the benefits of retinal imaging?

Digital retinal imaging is a proactive measure in detecting eye diseases at their early stages before noticeable symptoms emerge; often well in advance compared to traditional fundus photography carried out during comprehensive eye exams.

Conditions that can be identified early through these imaging techniques include:

• glaucoma
• diabetic retinopathy
• macular degeneration
• retinal detachment
• macular pucker
• retinal vein occlusion
• posterior uveitis
• macular hole
• cataracts

Early detection of eye diseases

By utilizing this state-of-the-art technology to diagnose serious eye diseases, our eye doctors can act swiftly to get you the right treatment, enhancing the prospects of effectively managing and treating eye conditions and potentially avoiding long-term complications or even permanent vision loss.

Who should consider retinal imaging?

Individuals with a family history of glaucoma, diabetes, age-related macular degeneration, or those exhibiting symptoms of eye discomfort, or any associated signs of eye diseases should prioritize investing in digital retinal imaging during their eye exams. Both scans are suitable for all ages, so it’s also an option for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of their eye health.

Book a comprehensive eye exam.

Now’s a better time than any to be proactive about your vision and eye health and invest in clear, healthy vision for your future – contact us for more information, or book your comprehensive eye exam with our

eye doctors in Helena, MT.