Optomap Retinal Exam: A substitute for eye dilation

Jun 4 2010

Have you been putting off a trip to the optometrist because you dread getting your eyes dilated? While your doctor has said that dilation is the most important part of your eye exam, the discomfort, blurry vision and silly sunglasses associated with the eye drops are enough to make you put off scheduling a regular appointment. Now thanks to new state-of-the-art equipment, there are no more excuses for putting off your appointment.

The Optomap Retinal Exam, which has been featured on the daytime shows Dr. Oz and The Doctors, is a low-powered scanning laser that takes a digital scan of the retina capturing more than 80 percent of the retina at one time and providing a much larger view of the back of the eye.  

The image, a panoramic view of the retina which takes only 1/4 of a second to produce, is available immediately for review with your doctor and is as unique as your individual DNA, becoming part of a patient's permanent medical record for future comparison and diagnosing of eye care health. This record allows your doctor to make accurate comparisons from year-to-year and detect small changes that may be the earliest sign of an eye condition.

"It was a regular occurrence to hear a patient groan, when it came time for them to have their eyes dilated," said Dr. Bita Tabassi, an optometrist from the Dr. Mark Lynn & Associates PLLC group at Dr. Bizer's VisionWorld. "Now patients, especially mothers with small children, are relieved to learn we can do a comprehensive exam without dilating their eyes. The Optomap laser allows us to quickly take a complete look at the eye and allows us to recognize conditions like glaucoma and cataracts earlier."  

Almost everyone is a good candidate for the Optomap Retinal Exam. Doctors have found that is especially effective for children, patients that can't or don't want to be dilated or anyone with a history of retinal problems that makes them sensitive to light. This new technology is now available at Dr. Bizer's VisionWorld, EyeMasters and Doctor's ValuVision locations throughout the Midwest.    

For more information on the Optomap Retinal Exam visit http://www.optos.com/en-us/Patients/