Blurred vision in one or both eyes can be a sign of a simple change in vision or something much more serious, especially when it occurs suddenly and persists for a few days. A 36-year-old new patient of Dr. Paula Koch, OD, noticed a “blob-like, blurry-ness” in his left eye and knew a visit to the eye doctor was necessary to get to the bottom of the issue.

While the patient’s medical history was unremarkable, his ocular history included a high keratoconic prescription, partial albinism, and amblyopia. Based on his ocular history and current symptoms, Dr. Koch recommended an optomap exam. The patient agreed to the exam, which revealed a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment spanning the 11-to 7-o’clock region of the nasal retina OS, as well as a small tear at 9 o’clock and some chorioretinal scarring in the far periphery and Weiss’ ring inferior to the disc. Because of the patient’s partial albinism and other unusual aspects of the optomap’s finding, including the blister-like appearance of the detachment, Dr. Koch referred the patient to a retinal specialist within 20 minutes of the optomap exam.

The retinal specialist performed a pneumatic retinopexy, which was unsuccessful and lead to a …

When you’re driving to a place you’ve never visited before, a map is a helpful tool that can aid you finding the place you need to be. A street view provides you with an up-close look at where you’re going, but it may cut off certain signs or landmarks you’ll need to look for. A wider view of a map shows you more of what you need to see in order to arrive at your destination with ease.

Similar things can be said for an eye exam. In a standard eye exam, conventional equipment limits you to a 45-degree field of view of the retina, showing very small portions of the retina at a time. With such limitations, there is a good possibility that signs or symptoms of an eye or systemic disease are left out of your field of view.

Ultra-widefield retinal imagining provides you with a more complete picture of your patient’s eyes. Optos’ ultra-widefield technology allows you to see up to 200 degrees of the retina in just one capture. With a wider field of view, you have a better opportunity to detect issues like retinal detachment or tears you might have otherwise missed.

The images …

In recent years, a variety of health issues have gained a significant amount of attention. Conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity are just a few of the many health problems that are contributing to the very grim prediction that “The current generation of American children may be the first not to live as long as their parents,” according to an article in the Georgia Health News.

The good news is that most of the health issues plaguing our nation are actually preventable or can be effectively managed when detected in their earliest stages. That’s why preventive health care is important now more than ever. The World Research Foundation notes that preventive health care offers a variety of benefits ranging from avoiding the need to deal with painful symptoms to simply having more energy, as well as maintaining a healthier lifestyle.

Preventive health care not only includes annual physical exams, but annual eye exams, as well. Many cases of vision loss could be prevented and treated if the issue were detected early on. Additionally, many systemic diseases can be spotted through a retinal exam long before other symptoms present themselves – a fact that many of …

The retina is a sensory membrane that lines the eye and controls how we see our surroundings. A deeper look into this part of the eye can help doctors detect and discover certain health issues.

A good example is the story of Cheree Burnette. Ms. Burnette was experiencing blurred vision and she knew an eye exam could help determine the problem. She told KPLCTV Channel 7 “…I had a problem that caused me to have distorted vision and came in pretty quickly after that and they were able to tell me exactly what I had.”

Ms. Burnette’s optometrist, Dr. Robert Janot, performed a retinal exam using the Daytona ultra-widefield retinal imaging device, which identified Ms. Burnette’s condition as a retinal vein occlusion, or a blocked vein in her eye. The image also helped reveal another problem, which could have been the initial cause of the retinal vein occlusion.

“I had undiagnosed pre-hypertension, which we believe was the cause,” she told KPLCTV Channel 7.

Dr. Janot shared that he performs the optomap exam on all patients to check their eye health and see issues that might be occurring beyond the surface. An optomap image provides a panoramic view of the retina, …

Eyes are the window to one’s soul, as the saying goes, but did you know they also reveal a lot about a person’s health? According to an August 2012 report from The Wall Street Journal (The WSJ), eyes can provide clues to health issues ranging from rheumatoid arthritis and lupus to diabetes and brain tumors.

The reason our eyes reveal so much about our health, the WSJ states, has to do with our bodies’ interconnected systems. The article states “changes in the eye can reflect those in the vascular, nervous and immune system, among others. And because the eyes are see-through in a way other organs aren’t, they offer a unique glimpse into the body.”

For this reason, and for the sake of your eyes, routine eye exams are essential, as eye doctors can sometimes spot a potential medical condition before other doctors can, often leading to an earlier diagnosis and treatment. For example, tiny blood clots in the retina can be an indicator of a risk for stroke, while thickened blood-vessel walls paired with narrowing of the vessels are a sign of high blood pressure.

Because the eyes can offer clues for an array of …

Are you on a computer all day or scrolling on your phone all night? Are you exercising? Eating right? These activities impact both your overall and ocular health. This month as we celebrate Healthy Vision Month, we invite you to take a moment to evaluate your habits that just might keep your eyesight safe.