Regular comprehensive eye exams are critical to eye and vision health. The Optovue retinal exam is an integral part of modern comprehensive eye exams. It produces images as unique as fingerprints and gives eye doctors an expansive view of the retina. 

Many eye conditions can develop without your knowledge. You may not even notice vision changes during the initial stages. A thorough retina examination can help detect such diseases, including macular degeneration. 

What Is Optovue?

This industry-leading eye care tech company researches, designs, and manufactures optical coherence tomography equipment. Eye doctors use the Optovue equipment to examine their patients’ eyes in detail, diagnose conditions in their earliest stages, and create customized treatment plans to protect vision and restore eye health. 

The Optovue wellness scan provides information about the retina’s thickness and the ganglion cell complex. Eye doctors can use this information to identify the early stages of macular degeneration. 

Optovue Retinal Exam

The wellness exam using iScan from Optovue is a state-of-the-art technology that allows for a painless, noninvasive, and quick retina scan. With this exam, eye doctors can go beyond what is visible on the retinal surface. The technology allows them to see through the ten retina layers to find irregularities or diseases. 

The retina’s health is crucial since it is the tissue inside your eye responsible for transmitting images seen to the brain. So, early detection of irregularities and diseases can help with prevention and treatment to preserve your vision. 

OCT Imaging

Optical coherence tomography is a contactless imaging test that captures cross-section images of the retina. It allows eye doctors to examine the different layers of the retina and their thicknesses and map their shapes. The retinal scans also help eye doctors see the blood vessels in the patient’s eyes. That is important because abnormal blood vessels can cause several eye health problems. 

What Happens During Optovue Wellness Screening?

The screening process is painless and noncontact. You rest your face in a frame and gaze into the OCT machine, which scans one eye at a time. Depending on your eye health and needs, your eye doctor may apply eye drops to dilate the eyes before your scan. 

The scan only takes a few minutes. Your doctor will allow you to blink and rest before scanning the other eye. If the eye doctor applies dilating eye drops, your eyes will remain light-sensitive for a few hours. So, you should arrange for a family member or friend to drive you home from your doctor’s office.

Conclusion

If you have an elevated risk for macular degeneration, call your eye doctor to schedule an appointment for this state-of-the-art screening. This retinal exam is easy, fast, and comfortable for patients of all ages.

To undergo the exam, you look into the Optovue device one eye at a time. You will see a light flash to let you know that the machine just took the image of your retina. The image appears immediately on a computer screen so your eye doctor can review it to determine whether you have macular degeneration.

For more about macular degeneration, visit Cincinnati Vision Group at our offices in Cincinnati, Liberty Township, Dayton, or West Chester, Ohio. You can call (513) 793-5970, (513) 712-5065, (513) 753-4981, (937) 435-4293, or (937) 579-0393 to schedule an appointment today.