As the US population ages, the rate of cataract procedures has correspondingly increased. By 2050 an estimated 83.7 million people in the US will be 65 and over. Due to the improvements in safety, speed and refractive outcomes of cataract surgery, the number of procedures has dramatically increased over the last 30 years. Additionally, there has been a significant increase in the incidences of patients opting for cataract procedures before the age of 65. The expanding longevity of this aging demographic results in higher expectations that premium intraocular lens will provide continued good vision for decades.
A recent paper from Assil Eye Institute and Batra Vision in California reviews the role of ultra-widefield imaging as a standard assessment tool in cataract procedure. This review demonstrates the value of UWF imaging as a complement to standard approaches for a comprehensive evaluation of retinal health prior to and following cataract surgery. Evaluating the retina prior to, and after, surgery is critical for optimal outcomes. Being able to identify any pathologies before that might adversely affect or delay surgery, as well as, the high expectations for sustained positive visual outcomes from the younger demographic opting for surgery, makes a thorough examination increasingly important. The rising number of procedures in already busy clinics further creates a need for a quick and comprehensive evaluation method.
USOR- UWF Retinal Imaging in Cataract Practice
Drs. Kerry Assil MD and Nicholas Batra MD, demonstrate how integrating optomap ultra-widefield retinal imaging in a cataract practice can address the demands that come with an increase in procedures. The use of standardized optomap images, within and between practices, reduces variability and facilitates diagnostic consensus. Additionally, the ability to manipulate and overlay images to compare to previous images facilitates the monitoring and tracking of any retinal pathology. Practice flow is dramatically streamlined because optomap captures more than 80%, or 200 degrees of the retina in a single capture in less than ½ second. This process can be administered by a technician, and the digital image is instantly available for review, enabling the doctor to quickly assess and identify if an additional dilated fundus exam is necessary. Drs. Assil and Batra further note that the standardized digital image offers a robust documentation which is easily stored, annotated and compared providing a clinically useful component of the patient’s record. The optomap image enhances documentation of retinal pathology, cataract opacity, implant choice and postoperative results. Additionally, the efficiency and ease of use of optomap facilitates potential economic advantages through an ability to evaluate a larger population of patients over a shorter period of time. Tools in the OptosAdvanceTM software also help to facilitate a better understanding for patients on the value of premium IOL by using the patient’s own retina in a 3-D model eye.
Integration of Optos ultra-widefield retinal imaging into preoperative assessment and postoperative follow up protocols helps address the issues of an increasing cataract surgery population and heightened patient expectations about postoperative outcomes and extended visual acuity. Optos ultra-widefield retinal imaging is an efficient, economical and patient-friendly evaluation tool which provides a consistent point of reference between clinicians and helps to document retinal changes over time and protect the long-term quality of vision.
For more information on Optos ultra-widefield retinal imaging, visit the Optos website where you can download the full paper above.