As we lead up to the booming July holiday, June is recognized as Fireworks Eye Safety Month, and because fireworks sometimes become a part of many year-round celebrations, not only Independence Day, it is an excellent opportunity to clarify our understanding of the do’s and don'ts of pyrotechnic use. Eye injuries from fireworks can be especially severe because of the combination of force, heat and chemicals. Following a few simple safety tips can help make for a safe, fun celebration.

Healthy Vision Month is aimed to encourage Americans to make eye health a priority and inform them of the steps they can take to protect their vision.  Most importantly, getting a comprehensive eye exam.  Your optometrist or ophthalmologist can review your personal and family history, assess your vision, and evaluate the internal and external anatomy of your eyes to rule in or out any problems.  If an issue is detected, treatment can be initiated as soon as possible, which can improve outcomes and slow or reverse the underlying disease process. Even if you don’t have any vision or eye problems, you should still schedule a comprehensive exam.

Optos UWF retinal imaging helps to improve the patient experience, patient education as well as minimize close-up interaction with patients allowing for ample safe distancing currently wished to maintain during examinations.  To help practices build patient confidence in the provision of safe and effective eye care, optomap UWF retinal imaging devices are designed for comfort, speed, efficiency, and safety. 

A comprehensive eye exam should include a thorough examination of the retina, including an optomap, which is complementary to a DFE and an excellent tool for screening and for patient education. A optomap helps doctors to discover and document the retina with little or no face-to-face interaction and takes only seconds to get a highly-detailed view of the retina, which is critical for detection and management of both ocular and systemic diseases.

Athletes of all levels need to be prepared and protect themselves from injury.  Many, avid sports player or not, have likely experienced some type of sports-related injury.  In some cases, these injuries may have happened directly to the eye, from orbital blowout fracture, ruptured globe, or a detached retina and some can be detected, along with other types of pathology, by looking at the health of the eye. Because the retina is the only place in the body where vasculature can be viewed non-invasively, eyecare professionals are looking to the retina to assist them in identifying, diagnosing, and treating ocular issues in athletes. Many of these eyecare professionals choose the ONLY ultra-widefield (UWF™) retinal image, optomap, to assist them like no other retinal imaging technology can. 

With more than 18,000 devices installed across the globe, there are countless stories to be told regarding how optomap has helped save sight and save lives in all eye care settings. Optos continues to highlight Optometrists worldwide who embrace utilizing optomap® ultra-widefield retinal imaging for their patients

Each year, March is recognized as National Save your Vision Month, a campaign designated to promote good eye health. This year, the American Optometric Association is highlighting awareness surrounding digital eyestrain and the continued importance of regular, comprehensive eye exams.   As computers becoming even more a part of everyday life, the risk of eye strain is higher than ever.  While there are many more eye diseases that exist, and not all can be prevented, there are simple steps that everyone can take to help keep their eyes healthy now, reducing the chance of vision loss in the future, routine comprehensive eye exams are one of them.  

optomap imaging can assist eyecare professional to find and document AMD earlier and potentially change the course of the disease.

February is additionally observed as Low Vision Awareness Month. During this time, we all have the opportunity to raise awareness about visual impairment and rehabilitation for those who are living with low vision.

Findings suggest that optomap fa imaging may improve clinician’s ability to identify signs of diabetic retinopathy progression.