In the late 1990s, eye care professionals began to use special cameras to capture photos of the retina on film. Technology has made giant steps since then, and now the optometry professionals at Sohi Eye Care in North Raleigh and North Hills capture these photos digitally. Our optometrist may use different kinds of imaging devices to take photos of the back of your eye. The retina, optic nerve, macula, and blood vessels are photographed in a fairly wide view. Digital retinal photos supplement but are not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam.
Who Needs These Photos?
If you have diabetes, macular degeneration, glaucoma, hypertension, or a different condition that affects your eyes, our optometrist may use digital retinal photos to get a clearer understanding of the state of your eyes. When eye problems are detected early, vision loss can be prevented.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Retinal Photos
One of the advantages of these images is that they are immediately stored in a computer. Our eye care professional can compare them with subsequent photos to track the condition of your eyes over time. Since the retina is the only part of your body where a doctor can view blood vessels directly, your eyes can be an indicator of your overall health.
Taking digital images of your eyes allows our eye doctor to see a larger part of the back of your eye than in a comprehensive eye exam. These initial digital retinal photos are a screening tool, and if our optometrist finds something suspicious, we can act immediately. The equipment that takes these photos cannot detect abnormalities on the edges of the retina. Check with your health insurer to learn if it covers these photos.
What Happens During the Exam
Our optometrist may or may not dilate your eyes with eye drops. The screening of digital retinal photos takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Generally speaking, capturing subsequent higher-resolution photos is also non-invasive. A common way to get the latter pictures is to use a laser with low-intensity light on the near-infrared spectrum. Our eye doctor will assess your digital retinal photos to identify any abnormalities. If any eye health issues are detected, our eye doctor will immediately begin the corresponding treatment.
Talk to Our Eye Doctor to Learn More About Digital Retinal Photos
If you are looking for an eye doctor in North Raleigh or North Hills contact Sohi Eye Care today. For more information on digital retinal photos or to schedule an eye exam, call us at (919) 872-1648.
