What Does Optomap Retinal Imaging Detect?

For most people, getting their eyes checked is the least of their worries. However, regular comprehensive eye exams link to your overall health. Doctors use them to help you detect serious conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. 

One of the most innovative tools that eye doctors have at their disposal is optomap® retinal imaging. So, what exactly is this fancy-sounding technology, and what can it detect? Dive in to learn more.

What Is the Retina?

To understand what optomap retinal imaging is, you must first understand what the retina is. It is the area of your eye that transmits what you see to your brain. Inside it is a vast network of tiny blood vessels. 

If something goes wrong with these minute vessels, you can experience serious vision issues or even blindness. It is why you must get your retinas checked regularly. It is where optomap retinal imaging comes in.

What Is optomap?

So, what is optomap retinal imaging? It is a revolutionary tool that utilizes a high-tech camera that takes a picture of your entire retina in one shot. You no longer have to sit through multiple uncomfortable and time-consuming tests. 

With optomap, your eye doctor can get a better view of your retina. All it takes is a few seconds. And the best part? The imaging technology is painless and noninvasive. So, what can optomap detect?

What optomap Retinal Imaging Can Detect

The technology allows experts to detect numerous conditions. These include:
 

• Diabetic Retinopathy

If you have diabetes, you are likely to develop diabetic retinopathy. It is a severe condition that can result in vision loss. With optomap, doctors can detect the early signs of this condition. It gives you a chance to get treatment before it is too late.
 

• Detecting Macular Degeneration

It is a condition that affects the macula, the part of your retina that enables sharp, detailed vision. With optomap, doctors can detect early signs of this disease. If they do, they can develop treatments to help slow or stop its progression.
 

• Detecting Glaucoma

It is a condition that damages your optic nerve. Left untreated, it can lead to blindness. With optomap, your eye doctor can detect the early signs of glaucoma. The earlier they do, the better your chances of preserving your vision.
 

• Detecting Cancer

With its advanced capabilities, optomap can also detect certain types of cancers. Melanoma, for example, can manifest in the retina before showing anywhere else in your body. By detecting these cancers early, your eye doctor can help you get the treatment you require to fight them.

Conclusion

The technology behind optomap retinal imaging—introduced by Douglas Anderson in the early 90s—can help detect a whole bunch of different eye conditions. As explained, it can diagnose some non-eye-related conditions too. 

Delivering the benefits of optomap is quick, painless, and noninvasive. If you are due for an eye exam, ask your eye doctor about optomap. It could end up saving your vision.

For more on optomap retina imaging, visit Coers Family Eyecare, PC, at our Columbus, Indiana office. Call (812) 408-8400 to schedule an appointment today.