EYE CLINIC OF AUSTIN OPTOMAP RETINAL EXAM

In our continued efforts to bring the most advanced technology available to our patients, Eye Clinic of Austin is proud to announce the inclusion of the Optomap® Retinal Exam as an integral part of your eye exam today.

This scanning laser ophthalmoscope is a wellness screening tool that assists us in the evaluation of your retina.  With the Optomap, we can discover any abnormalities or confirm the health of your retina, diagnose any potentially harmful diseases and determine the best course of action.

An annual comprehensive eye exam is an important component of your health care regimen.  These check-ups enable us to test your vision and are also important to examine the inside back are of your eye, known as the retina.  The sensitive tissue that makes up the retina is susceptible to a variety of diseases that could lead to partial or complete vision loss.  The early detection of any retinal abnormality is crucial to maintaining your ocular and systemic health.  It is important to understand that in most cases of eye disease, in early stages you will experience no signs or symptoms.

Since many eye problems can develop without warning and progress with no symptoms.  Early on, you might not even notice any change in your vision.  However, diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal tears or detachments, as well as other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure can be detected with a thorough exam of the retina.  The retina is part of your eye that catches the image of what you are looking at, similar to the film in a camera.

The Optomap Retinal Exam is a simple procedure.  In less than a second with on click of a button, this instrument non-invasively generates a high resolution, digital, color image.  This image becomes a part of your permanent medial record and enables us to enhance the digital image to see more of your retina, measure aspects of your eye and magnify some of the finer details.  We can also track changes in your eye over time by comparing each year's Optomap.  In addition, you take a more active role in your eye care by reviewing the images with your doctor and learning about how to "Protect Your Vision."

An Optomap® Retinal Exam provides:

• A scan to confirm a healthy eye or to detect the presence of disease.
• An overview or map of the retina, giving your doctor a more detailed view that can be achieved by other means.
• The opportunity for you to view and discuss the Optomap images of your eye with your doctor at the time of the exam.
• A permanent record for your medical file, enabling your doctor to make important comparisons if potential problems show themselves at a future examination.

The Optomap® Retinal Exam is fast, easy, and comfortable.

Healthy Retina                                                                     Unhealthy Retina

PLEASE NOTE:  The Optomap® Retinal Exam  is optional and used for routine vision will not be covered under either your health plan or your vision plan, meaning you would be responsible for the charges.  Our doctors strongly believe the Optomap® Retinal Exam is an essential part of your comprehensive eye exam and highly recommends it for all patients once per year.

Optomap Retinal Exam For Children

The Optomap Retinal Exam was developed by Douglas Anderson whose son lost sight in one eye at the age of five due to  and undetected retinal detachment.  Mr. Anderson set out to develop a system that not only could capture an unprecedented view of the retina (200 degrees), but that was also patient friendly, particularly for children, who tend to be more difficult to examine.

Since many vision problems can begin at an early age, so it is important for children to receive proper eye care.  Early detection and treatment are essential in preventing conditions that could potentially cause problems or permanent vision loss.  Just as it is for adults, in addtion to looking for changes in the front of your child's eye, which could affect overall vision, we also need to look at the inside of the eye, the retina, to check that it is healthly and not damaged or showing signs of disease.  The Optomap Retinal Exam is the same procedure for children as it is for adults and it is highly recommended by providers at the Eye Clinic of Austin.