The statistics are clear. Over the next decade optometric and ophthalmic practices in North America, Europe and throughout the developed world will identify and treat an increasing number of patients with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR). There are currently more than 40 million people in North America with diabetes and that number is expected to grow to over 50 million by 2025.¹ In Europe, the number of those afflicted with the disease—currently over 60 million – will also see significant growth.² These trends present practitioners with real challenges – first, how to more efficiently screen this large and growing population for signs of DR, and second, how to provide more informed and effective treatment at all stages of the disease.

Many practitioners are rising to these challenges with the help of a technology that has unique, proven capabilities in improving DR diagnosis and management – ultra-widefield (UWF™) retinal imaging.

Ultra-widefield Retinal Imaging

UWF imaging is performed by a specially-designed scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) that generates a high-resolution digital image which captures 200° (or about 82%) of the retina. Conventional techniques may image 45° or less of the retina. The SLO simultaneously scans using two low power lasers (red and green) that …

The increasing use of ultra-widefield (UWF^™) retinal imaging is giving the optometric and ophthalmic communities a more comprehensive diagnostic platform as well as a powerful tool to explore the pathology and progression of a broad range of retinal diseases and conditions.

The diagnosis and study of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of several fields where UWF imaging is having particular impact. It’s estimated that over 400 million people across the globe are afflicted with diabetes and that number is expected to increase to over 600 million by 2040. As many as a third of those diagnosed with diabetes will also develop DR[1], a leading cause for blindness in adults. This growth is spurring the need for improved techniques for DR screening and diagnosis.

About UWF Retinal Imaging

Ultra-widefield imaging is performed by a specially designed scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) that generates a high-resolution digital image covering 200° (or about 82%) of the retina. The SLO simultaneously scans using two low-power lasers (red and green) that enable high resolution, color imaging of retinal substructures. The scan is produced in a single capture without pupil dilation. Along with UWF color imaging, the technology can also support ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (FA), UWF fundus autofluorescence …

Protecting your eyes from the harsh effects of UV rays is just as important in January as it is in June. A common misconception with eye safety is believing that eye damage can not occur in the winter months and that eye safety practices can go on holiday until next year. Sun exposure can increase the development of cataracts, and cause growths on the eye regardless of the season.

The sun can have a seemingly harsh reflection off the snow in the winter and it’s critical to take the necessary precautions in protecting yourself such as wearing hats, sunscreen, goggles or other UV protective eyewear. Studies have found that exposure to UV radiation can even be high on cloudy days with the northern hemisphere having its highest exposure at midday. Dr. Anne Sumers, a practicing ophthalmologist in Ridgewood, NJ and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmologist states, “Sunlight reflected off the snow can actually sunburn the cornea in the winter.”

With the heart of winter just around the corner for most of the US, here’s a few tips on what you can do to stay ahead of the weather and protect your eyes:

Wear sunglasses

Snowy …

Medicine’s first responsibility is to the patient, but patients often complain about the inconveniences of preventive screenings and can become noncompliant. UWF™ retinal imaging decreases the discomfort of retinal screening, reduces screening time and, as a result, may increase patient satisfaction. Clinicians also benefit, since improved imaging not only allows them to provide enhanced patient care but also invites increased collaboration with colleagues.

Patient Benefits Beyond Improved Imaging

Patients often forgo preventive screenings because, in their minds, the discomfort of pupil dilation during the exam outweighs the potential benefit of preventing disease. This dilation process also extends the visit time and leaves the patient with the side effect of short-term blurred vision. UWF is complimentary and, in some cases, can eliminate patient pupil dilation. Consequently, UWF imaging can decrease examination time, which can significantly improve patient compliance.

Enhanced imaging and diagnostic quality also provide images superior to those produced by current Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) standards for DR screening (Kernt, 2012). Patients who undergo UWF imaging stand to be diagnosed sooner and treated earlier.

Clinician Benefits Beyond Direct Patient Care

Not only does UWF imaging assist in improving patient outcomes, it can be integrated with screening programs. …

Diabetic macular edema (DME) has been diagnosed more frequently as detection methods have improved. For Type 1 patients who are diagnosed at an early age, disease management begins at the time of diagnosis, and blood sugar (BS) control is critical to the prevention of secondary microvascular complications. It has been documented that nearly all Type 1 diabetics develop significant retinal disease in the two decades following their initial diagnosis. Baseline retinal disease in these patients has been shown to be a clear prognostic factor for the incidence of vision threatening retinal disease later in life. Type 2 diabetics who showed no retinal disease at diagnosis have lower risk of progression toward retinal disease in the same time period. When a patient is diagnosed with diabetic macular edema (DME), microvascular disease is already evident as clearly shown in multimodality ultra-widefield (200 degrees) or UWF^™ retinal imaging with optomap^®. This has been confirmed by UWF fluorescein angiography (FA).

Rapid visualization of the peripheral retina with UWF color and FA imaging (often without a mydriatic agent) allows more pathology to be found at an earlier onset. Peripheral ischemia is determined with confirmatory FA which documents peripheral neovascularization, nonperfusion, and late peripheral vascular leakage. Earlier diagnosis allows earlier treatment. Thus, …

Eye safety is sometimes the last thing on people’s minds when buying toys for children. Although no one chooses gifts with the intent to cause any harm, some of the most popular children’s toys can pose threats to eye safety. With the holiday and gift giving season in our midst, here is a list of toys that can often pose a threat to eye safety that you may want to avoid:

1. Guns that shoot any type of projectile

This includes toy guns that shoot lightweight, cushy darts. These toy guns typically shoot up to 75 feet in distance and the darts move at speeds fast enough to cause serious eye injury. BB guns, paintball guns and darts can also be particularly hazardous.

2. Toy wands, swords, sabers or guns with bayonets

These, in general, are an invitation to eye injury. As the old saying goes, “you’ll get poked in the eye!” These toys can be particularly hazardous when used inappropriately with the potential to cause severe eye damage such as corneal abrasion, intraocular pressure, and even permanent vision loss.

3. Laser pointers and bright flashlights

Even though these aren’t technically toys, kids love to play “laser tag” or “flashlight tag”. The light sensitivity of these devices is sufficient …

As the rates of diabetes in the US continue to rise, diabetic retinopathy remains one of the leading causes of blindness in adults. Earlier, more accurate detection of retinal pathology is crucial to the successful management of diabetic retinopathy. When compared to traditional examination techniques, the use of ultra-widefield (UWF™) retinal imaging technology from Optos, facilitates a more rapid visualization of a much larger area of the retinal periphery, resulting in earlier diagnosis, better evaluation, and more effective treatment options.

Improved Detection

Clinical evidence has shown that UWF imaging can improve the detection of diabetic retinopathy. In the assessment of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, UWF images have been found to be comparable to the gold standard Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) seven-field color fundus photographs. With the use of UWF imaging, retinal images are obtained more quickly without the need for dilation. In addition, UWF color imaging capable of viewing more than 80 percent or 200° of the retina allows for better viewing of the periphery for diagnostic purposes.

UWF imaging and UWF fluorescein angiography (FA) improves detection and classification by revealing early signs of diabetic retinopathy that may be missed in traditional assessment. The …

In an effort to raise global awareness about vision impairment and blindness, the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have declared October 8 World Sight Day. In the third year of  their theme “Universal Eye Care,” the focus is Eye Care for All.

The mandate for “eye care for all” is to educate and promote to the public that blindness and vision impairment are serious health issues that span the globe. Through the participation in World Sight Day (WSD), the hope is to engage government officials responsible for healthcare and to have them fund and participate in programs for national blindness prevention awareness.

Several points relating to educating the public about unnecessary vision loss internationally have been culled to help provide guidance for those participating in this year’s WSD:

– Low vision or blindness affects roughly 285 million people across the globe. – While approximately 246 million suffer from moderate to severe vision loss, 39 million are blind. – Countries with low incomes hold 90 percent of the persons who are blind. – As many as 80 percent of people who have become blind could have had treatment or preventative measures. – Blindness prevention …

Shown to occur in 18 percent of patients over a five year period, the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) has been determined the cause of vision loss in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Furthermore, it has been determined that since there are successful treatments available for CNV before there are visual changes, if it is detected early enough, vision loss due to AMD can be mitigated.

Since treating CNV once damage and vision loss have occurred is not a successful method of restoring vision or reversing damage to the macula in most people, early detection in AMD patients is crucial to maintaining functional vision. By the time changes in vision are noticed by patients, permanent damage has already occurred. Clinical evidence has sufficiently proven that treatments of small AMD lesions has been highly successful, so the earliest possible detection provides the best outcomes in AMD patient management.

Early detection of AMD requires sophisticated equipment and testing processes if sight preservation is to be successful, due to the rapid progression. According to an article published in Retina Today and written by Anat Loewenstein, M.D., early detection “…means a significant gain of vision for most patients.” Not only can this outcome preserve …

Computers play a major role in many people’s daily workday. Remaining focused on computer screens for eight or more hours a day causes a condition that is now known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Since there are many problems associated with eye strain and computer screens, CVS is a generic term that encompasses all of them.

Roughly 50 to 90 percent of people who work on computers suffer from some form of eye problems. When you combine the blue light, flickering and glare from a computer screen with the constant need to focus, your eye muscles face considerable exertion. This can lead to CVS symptoms such as:

– Blurred vision – Seeing double images – Red, dry or irritated eyes – Headaches

Although CVS has not been tied directly to permanent conditions, the symptoms can affect your performance and should be alleviated as much as possible. The following tips can help if you spend many hours a day working with computer screens:

– Be sure to have a yearly comprehensive eye exam including optomap®. Your eye care professional can monitor vision changes if any and diagnose troubling conditions before they do become permanent. If necessary, …