Optometric practices face growing and more complex patient loads as they support the special needs of an aging population, an increase in diabetic patients and the complications associated with their condition, and manage patient flow so to strike a balance between patient experience and staff productivity. Many optometrists are satisfying all of these demands by incorporating ultra-widefield (UWF^™) retinal imaging into their practices.

About Ultra-Widefield Retinal Imaging

UWF retinal imaging is performed by a specially designed, table-top scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) that generates a high-resolution digital image covering 200° (or about 82%) of the retina. (this compares to other imaging techniques with fields of view typically under 45°).

The SLO simultaneously scans the retina using two low-power lasers (red and green) that enable high-resolution, color imaging of retinal substructures. The resulting UWF high resolution digital image – the optomap – is produced in a single capture without pupil dilation. Tabletop systems designed for optometric practice (Daytona) provide both UWF color imaging and UWF autofluorescence modalities in a single scan.

Unlike routine slit lamp examinations, optomap can be performed by a trained technician. The image is captured in less than a second using automatic prompts that position the patient for an accurately. …

The need to increase the rate and accessibility of ocular health screenings is significant. For example, of the 415 million adults worldwide who are afflicted with diabetes, 45 percent are undiagnosed. A large percentage of these undiagnosed individuals will develop diabetic retinopathy (DR) and DME diabetic macular edema (DME). Also important is the diagnosis of other conditions, many of which are found in aging populations, including age-related macular edema (AMD), branch retinal vein occlusion, glaucoma, and cataracts.

One way to widen the availability of ocular health screenings is through telehealth and telemedicine programs. These initiatives are growing worldwide as stakeholders in the health community take advantage of advances in medical and communications technology. One such innovation with particular utility in ocular telehealth is ultra-widefield (UWF™) retinal imaging, which offers an effective, rapid, and easy-to-use means bringing state-of-the-art diagnostics to underserved populations. This technology, developed by Optos, has been deployed in a variety of telehealth settings.

About Ultra-widefield Retinal Imaging

UWF retinal imaging is performed by a specially designed scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) that generates a high-resolution digital image covering 200° (or about 82 percent) of the retina. By comparison, conventional 7 standard field (7SF) ETDRS photographs produce a relatively narrow …

More than 400 million people across the globe deal with diabetes. An additional 200 million are expected to be diagnosed between now and 2040, and up to a third of these patients will likely develop diabetic retinopathy (DR)¹.

These increasing health challenges are driving the need for improved techniques to diagnosis and treat both DR and its common complications like diabetic macular edema (DME). One diagnostic tool – the visualization of the retinal periphery using ultra-widefield (UWF^™) retinal imaging – is providing the ophthalmic community with important insights about the pathology, progression and treatment of DR and associated complications.

About UWF Retinal Imaging

UWF imaging is performed by a specially-designed scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) that generates a high-resolution digital image capturing 200° or 82% of the retina. The SLO simultaneously uses two low-power lasers (red and green) that enable high-resolution, color imaging of retinal substructures.

Along with UWF color imaging, the technology also supports UWF fluorescein angiography (FA), UWF fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and UWF indocyanine green angiography (ICG).

Conventional 7 standard field (7SF) ETDRS photographs produce a comparatively narrow view (45° or less) of the center-portion of the retina. Peripheral portions are not imaged.

UWF Retinal Imaging’s Impact on DR …

A common complication arising from diabetic vitrectomy for the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) is recurrent post vitrectomy diabetic vitreous hemorrhage (PVDVH). A recent study¹ using ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWF FA) has generated new insights into the etiology of recurrent PVDVH. The study results also suggest that imaging of the peripheral retina may provide practitioners with superior, actionable post-operative information compared to conventional imaging techniques.

Multimodal UWF Retinal Imaging

UWF retinal imaging is performed using a specially-designed scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) that generates a high-resolution digital image – optomap – which captures 200° (or about 82%) of the retina. By contrast, conventional ETDRS 7 standard field (7SF) photographs produce a relatively narrow view (45° or less) of the center-portion of the retina.

For UWF color imaging, the SLO simultaneously scans the retina with two low-power lasers (red and green) that enable high resolution, color imaging of retinal substructures. The scan is completed in a single capture in less than a second, often without pupil dilation required. Along with UWF color imaging, the technology also supports ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (FA), UWF fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and UWF indocyanine green chorioangiography (ICG).

PVDVH Study Background

The study …

January is National Glaucoma Awareness month and in efforts to help educate the public on the disease here are a few facts you should know pertaining to your eye health:

Nearly 3 million people over the age of 40 have glaucoma and as the population ages the number is projected to grow steadily, increasing by nearly 50% to 4.3 million by 2032 according to the Prevent Blindness “Future of Vision: Forecasting the Prevalence and Costs of Vision Problems” report.

Glaucoma is often called the “the sneak thief of sight” because most people don’t notice the early symptoms. However, if it is detected and treated early enough vision loss may be decreased. Risk factors that increase your odds of glaucoma include: extreme nearsightedness, aging eyes, and a family history. For the best chance of early detection, regular, comprehensive eye exams should be conducted even if you have no symptoms.

It’s imperative to act fast to protect your vision! If you wait until after you’ve already experienced some vision loss to seek help you may not be able to restore your eye sight even with surgery or treatment – glaucoma typically affects your peripheral vision first. As the only ultra-widefield retinal imaging technology with a 200 degree view …

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, …