OPTOS LASER EYE SCANNER:- TWO YEARS ON…..

Over the past two years since investing in our state-of-the-art Optos laser eye scanner I have been asked numerous times if I have found anything unexpected/interesting or sight threatening?

The answer is a resounding YES !

I actually feel like I am not doing a complete job without taking an Optomap retinal scan on every patient, as so much is missed of the retina with other methods.

Here are a few stories…..

A patient phoned the practice very concerned as they were experiencing little flashes of light at the side of their eye and a new black floater. They had Googled it and were panicking that they had a detached retina. We advised the patient that they needed to have their eyes checked the same day and advised an Optomap retinal scan to examine the peripheral retina. The Optomap scan shows over 80% of the retinal surface in comparison to traditional methods which only shows 20%. The scan showed a small tear in the retina, which if left untreated would develop into a retinal detachment with significant visual complications, difficult surgery and uncomfortable convalescence. The patient was referred immediately to eye casualty with the scan images on their mobile phone to show the doctors the position of the tear. They received laser treatment the same day to secure the retina and prevent a retinal detachment. This is an amazing tool; and I have seen many retinal tears which have been found without any presenting symptoms and treated to prevent sight loss.

A patient had been referred for a cataract operation and came in a few weeks after surgery for a check-up. I was surprised that their vision hadn’t improved more after the operation but couldn’t see any problems in the front of the eye or on the retina. So I suggested an OCT scan to see if there were any complications under the retina in the deeper tissues. The OCT scan showed fluid filled spaces under the retinal surface called macula oedema, which causes a blurred vision and which simply cannot be seen without the use of a scan. I referred the patient back to the eye hospital the next day for treatment with eye drops to dry up the fluid. The vision has subsequently improved to a very good standard due to the prompt diagnosis and treatment.

A patient came for a routine check up and said their vision had gone a bit blurry in one eye. After testing their eyes I couldn’t improve the vision with glasses and the vision remained blurry. This often means that something has changed inside the eye and is due to the eye health. I recommended an Optomap retinal scan to do a comprehensive check of the health of the back of the eye. The scan revealed a large retinal haemorrhage which was causing the blurry vision, and it was easy to explain by showing this to the patient on the screen. The patient was immediately referred to their GP for a blood pressure check which was found to be “sky-high” with the associated risk of a stroke or heart attack. Blood pressure medication was prescribed and the patient returned to thank us for preventing more serious general health problems.

I think you have probably got the message about how useful the Optos retinal scanner is to me in looking after your eyes as comprehensively as possible. These are just a few of many examples of what an important tool it is and why I wouldn’t like to work without it now.

If you have not had your eyes tested within the last two years you can book an eye examination via our online portal or by calling our friendly and helpful team on 0115 933 2999.