November is recognized as American Diabetes Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month.  Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month aims to increase awareness of diabetes and diabetic eye disease and encourage people with diabetes to seek treatment for related vision problems.   According to Prevent Blindness America, Diabetes is now the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults, and all people with diabetes are at risk for vision loss and blindness.

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that diabetic persons may face as a complication of this disease including: Diabetic retinopathy – A leading cause of blindness in American adults, it is caused by damage to the small blood vessels of the retina – the seeing layer of the eye. Diabetic macular edema (DME)  – A complication of diabetes caused by leaking blood vessels, which leads to fluid accumulation in the macula, the center of the retina used for central vision. DME can cause central vision to become blurry. Cataract – The clouding of the lens in the eye, which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. Cataracts can cause vision to become blurry. Glaucoma  – Optic nerve damage and possible loss of …

With Halloween upon us, dressing up is all part of the fun for both children and adults.  To ensure Halloween is fun and safe for all, it is important to take proper precautions for safety.  Each year, the US hospital emergency rooms treat several hundred eye injuries related to Halloween costumes and masks. Additionally, it is often very easy for children to be less visible to drivers during evening hours.  Prevent Blindness® has provided some helpful safety times to keep in mind this Halloween:

Costumes and Safety

-Avoid costumes with masks, wigs, floppy hats or eye patches that block vision. -Tie hats and scarves securely so they don’t slip over children’s eyes. -Avoid costumes that drag on the ground to prevent tripping or falling -Avoid pointed props such as spears, swords or wands that may harm other children’s eyes. -Wear bright, reflective clothing or decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape/patches. -Carry a bright flashlight to improve visibility. -Do not ride a bike/scooter/skateboard or roller blade while wearing a costume. -Obey all traffic signals—pedestrian and driver. -Younger children should go with an adult while trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. Older children should trick-or-treat in groups. -Use common sense. Never dart out …

In 2000, Optos delivered the first and only retinal imaging device that could capture beyond the vortex vessels of the retina. The ability to clearly image that much of the retina—in one capture, and in less than ½ second—significantly influenced the way eye care professionals examined their patients’ eyes. The core technology is based on a scanning laser ophthalmoscope and a unique ellipsoid mirror that create a virtual focal point inside the eye to enable the single capture of the central retina and periphery. For color images, green and red lasers are engaged simultaneously to allow visualization of retinal substructures from the sensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium to the choroid.

Over the years, Optos has continued to develop its hardware and software platforms – most recently delivering Monaco, the newest device providing new ways to enhance clinical exams.  It is the only ultra-widefield (UWF™) retinal imaging device with integrated OCT. Monaco produces a 200° single-capture optomap image in less than ½ second and also provides cross-sectional 40° OCT views of retinal structures. Monaco enables a rapid multi-modality capture featuring color, autofluorescence and OCT scans, for both eyes, in as little as two minutes.  UWF with integrated OCT saves time, …

September is Healthy Aging month, however despite age related changes to vision, ocular health is often overlooked.  As the aging population grows, adding the first influx of generation X to the baby boomers in the over 50 demographics, the incidences of glaucoma and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) are also on the rise.

Recent studies have demonstrated how optomap ultra-widefield™ (UWF) retinal imaging is fulfilling a need in supporting the detection and management of both ocular and systemic diseases associated with aging. UWF imaging provides a high resolution, single-capture image of 82% (or 200 degrees) of the retina.  Studies have confirmed that the resolution of the optomap image – is comparable to fundus photography – which captures 11% of the retina, in detection of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, AMD and uveitis.  Additionally, studies have found that the additional area captured by optomap can enhance the ability to detect, diagnose and manage diseases in comparison to fundus photography and be captured more efficiently.  UWF is being increasingly used in optometric and ophthalmic settings and enables eye care professionals to detect, diagnose, document and treat ocular pathology including retinal disease that may first present in the periphery.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is …

Find out what’s new from Optos!

As the leaders in ultra-widefield (UWF™) retinal imaging technology, Optos would like to invite you to join us at the International Vision Expo West (VEW) September 26-29 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.    Explore what’s new at Optos by pre-scheduling your demonstration or stop by booth #MS6051 during the show.

Optos Announces Global Availability of Monaco — The Only Clinically-Validated, 200-Degree UWF Retinal Image with Integrated OCT

Optos has continued to develop hardware and software platforms— most recently delivering Monaco, the latest device which offers new ways to enhance clinical exams. It is the only UWF retinal imaging device with integrated OCT. Monaco produces a 200-degree, single-capture optomap image in less than ½ second and also provides cross-sectional, 40-degree OCT views of retinal structures. Monaco enables a rapid multi-modality capture featuring color, autofluorescence and OCT scans for both eyes in as little as two minutes. UWF with integrated OCT saves time, space and minimizes patient movement. The optomap images and OCT scans are correlated to facilitate pathology examination. Color, AF and OCT images are shown in a single, comprehensive view on a single device. The introduction of Monaco further differentiates our products with continued ease of use and speed of capture. OCT scans available with the …

With August deemed Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, there cannot be enough stress placed on the importance of protecting children (including teenagers) eye health.  Healthy eyes and good vision are essential for the physical and educational development of children. Most children have healthy eyes. However, vision problems can begin at an early age and go unnoticed by both children and their parents. Early detection and treatment are indispensable in preventing conditions that could potentially cause problems or permanent vision loss.

Christina, a high school student in Manhattan Beach, California walked into her eye doctor’s office thinking it was just going to be another eye appointment and yet another glasses fitting.  Dr. Dale Choi, of Manhattan Beach Vision Group, recommended Christina get an optomap image as part of her exam that day.  To their surprise, the image revealed a significant finding.  Dr. Choi discovered a retinal hole with a large sub-clinical detachment in her left eye.  Dr. Choi reviewed the image with Christina, explaining that she would need to be referred a retina specialist that same day, to repair the hole and save her sight. Fortunately for Christina, the local specialist was able to repair the hole with no damage to …

While to some it may feel as though summer has just begun, others are already feeling the pressures of checking off every item on their back to school lists.  With all the hassle of stocking up on school supplies or finding the perfect pair of shoes, there is often one important item that gets left off every parent’s list – a comprehensive eye exam.  Although schools generally do some basic testing of children’s vision, there is no doctor to perform a comprehensive exam or diagnose problems with your child’s eyesight.  According to experts, nearly 90 percent of what is taught in school is done so visually, therefore without excellent vision, children are left at a disadvantage.  Those with poor eyesight may struggle with school and learning, leaving them unable to reach their maximum potential.  A yearly comprehensive eye exam can not only ensure your child’s vision is healthy or corrected, but also rule out diseases that can potentially lead to vision loss.

Just as their bodies are rapidly growing, children’s eye are also changing. The slightest change in vision can cause eye strain, headaches or blurred vision which can be very distracting in school.  Myopia and hyperopia, also known as near or …

In a novel study from Queen’s University Belfast, researchers demonstrate that the eye could be a window to the brain. The results of the study, recently published in the Journal of Ophthalmic Research, show how degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) can be monitored via ultra-widefield (UWF) retinal imaging.  The retina is a part of the central nervous system and shares structural and functional features with the brain. Altogether 59 AD patients and 48 controls were entered into the study.  They were imaged utilizing ultra-widefield imaging from Optos.  This advanced technology, using red and green lasers, captures a 200 degree, high-resolution digital image of the retina in less than ½  second, reaching regions of the retina that have been previously inaccessible with other methods of imaging.

Measuring biomarkers, such as drusen and vasculature width gradients in delineated quadrants of the retina, the researchers found that these changes, particularly in the peripheral retina, could be associated with degenerative brain conditions such as AD. Specifically, the markers that were chiefly considered were drusen and vasculature changes. Drusen are deposits of fats, minerals, and proteins and are normal symptoms of aging that appear as yellowish spots in the layer beneath the …

Although July 4^th, or Independence Day, has come and gone, there is a good possibility that some of us have a few extra sparklers, or an “All the fireworks are gone, kids – time for bed!” stash of leftovers hidden behind the stale pretzels in the top cupboard.  July is Fireworks Eye Safety Month, and because fireworks sometimes become a part of many year-round celebrations, it is an excellent opportunity to clarify our understanding of the do’s and don’ts of pyrotechnic use.

While the thrill many of us derive from the thunderous booms and brilliant blooms of fireworks is undeniable, so are the sobering statistics that accompany these displays.

In recent years, in June and July alone, over 6000 fireworks related injuries occur and over 20% of those are eye injuries.  These injuries can range from temporary or more superficial issues to severe, life altering injuries including burns and bleeding in the eye, retinal detachments, and even a ruptured globe or blindness.  Many of these injuries occur to those who are not even handling the fireworks and, even more distressing is that frequently these injuries afflict children.Prevent Blindness America and the American Academy of Blindness sponsor July as Fireworks Eye …

As the US population ages, the rate of cataract procedures has correspondingly increased.  By 2050 an estimated 83.7 million people in the US will be 65 and over. Due to the improvements in safety, speed and refractive outcomes of cataract surgery, the number of procedures has dramatically increased over the last 30 years.  Additionally, there has been a significant increase in the incidences of patients opting for cataract procedures before the age of 65. The expanding longevity of this aging demographic results in higher expectations that premium intraocular lens will provide continued good vision for decades.

A recent paper from Assil Eye Institute and Batra Vision in California reviews the role of ultra-widefield imaging as a standard assessment tool in cataract procedure.  This review demonstrates the value of UWF imaging as a complement to standard approaches for a comprehensive evaluation of retinal health prior to and following cataract surgery.  Evaluating the retina prior to, and after, surgery is critical for optimal outcomes. Being able to identify any pathologies before that might adversely affect or delay surgery, as well as, the high expectations for sustained positive visual outcomes from the younger demographic opting for surgery, makes a thorough …