It’s been a year since your last visit to the eye doctor. You know how important it is to have an annualeye examination. Your optometrist is friendly and kind and keeps your vision as sharp as possible. The vision tests are simple, easy and comfortable. Only one thing is keeping you from scheduling an appointment —you don’t like having your eyes dilated.
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Facts About Dilation
Many people considerdilationa nuisance. Nobody can honestly say they enjoy those pesky eyedrops, and the need for those funky sunglasses they may give you to wear out the door.
Truth is, however, dilation of the eyes is the most important part of a comprehensive eye exam.By dilating the eyes, a doctor can get a much better view of theretina, optic nerve, and vessels in the back of the eye.
Eye Exams Without Dilation
Not only is dilation a nuisance for the patient, but it is also frustrating for the doctor to try to deal with an unwilling patient. An explanation usually ensues with the patient eventually understanding that dilation is simply part of the process, an important component that should never be optional.
How Does Optomap Work?
Optomap is a low-powered scanning laser ophthalmoscope that digitally scans the retina. The test is non-invasive and takes only seconds to complete. Different wavelengths of laser light are used to capture the image. The image can then be filtered, allowing various layers of the retina to be evaluated. The image can be viewed on a computer monitor and stored for future comparisons.
Another advantage of Optomap technology is that theretinal imageis displayed immediately. This lets the eye care professional review it quickly, and if necessary, refer the patient to a retinal specialist.
Is It Too Good to Be True?
Secondly, It does not go out far enough in the periphery. The eye doctor can see more in the periphery on a dilated exam than on Optomap. Optomap can miss peripheral retinal holes, tears, and other significant peripheral pathology that can cause vision loss. It should only be used as a screener or for monitoring more central disease. It does not replace a dilated exam.
If you find it difficult to have your eyes dilated for an exam, the Optomap may be an alternative for screening some more common retinal and optic nerve conditions. However, it is not a full substitute for a dilated eye exam. It is still highly recommended that you have your eyes dilated.
1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cheng SC, Yap MK, Goldschmidt E, Swann PG, Ng LH, Lam CS.Use of the Optomap with lid retraction and its sensitivity and specificity.Clin Exp Optom.2008;91(4):373-8. doi:10.1111/j.1444-0938.2007.00231.xAdditional ReadingOptos, Optomap® Procedures. Optos, 2008.
1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cheng SC, Yap MK, Goldschmidt E, Swann PG, Ng LH, Lam CS.Use of the Optomap with lid retraction and its sensitivity and specificity.Clin Exp Optom.2008;91(4):373-8. doi:10.1111/j.1444-0938.2007.00231.xAdditional ReadingOptos, Optomap® Procedures. Optos, 2008.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cheng SC, Yap MK, Goldschmidt E, Swann PG, Ng LH, Lam CS.Use of the Optomap with lid retraction and its sensitivity and specificity.Clin Exp Optom.2008;91(4):373-8. doi:10.1111/j.1444-0938.2007.00231.x
Optos, Optomap® Procedures. Optos, 2008.
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