The Latest Diagnostics to Help Eye Doctors Find and Monitor the Progression of Certain Eye Conditions

Smart Ways to Use New Diagnostic Equipment

Christian Chew, ODOptica Optometry, San Francisco & Millbrae, CA

We use an OCT, fundus camera and corneal topographer. A non-contact tonometer from Nidek, with an ocular response analyzer, gives more detail on corneal dynamics than the air puff test. New technologies offer us more testing modalities, improving patient flow. Optovue’s iVue80 is fast and efficient, and gives good quality images and thorough detail of the back of the eye. The quality of the equipment has gone up while the cost has gone down and new practitioners can get better equipment than they could 15 years ago. In San Francisco space is at a premium, so we place our compact devices in a smaller footprint. Yet, we find we can perform tests quickly and get more reliable images than with older devices.

Rasa Tamulavichus, OD Big City Optical, Chicago, IL

Our 11 locations are recognized for their high-end tech. I upgraded from an old-style phoropter to Luneau Technology’s Eye Refract last year. It allows a technician to do refraction outside the exam room and its AI component prompts the tech to ask questions. Training time is reduced and the data so accurate, my remake rate is less than 1 percent. It takes wave front readings in different lighting conditions so, for example, I can prescribe for night-time driving. My RoI makes Eye Refract a no-brainer. We also use OptoVue’s iVue OCT which helps me screen for eye disease. Its fundus camera captures images without dilation. The Firefly digital slit lamp (Shanghai Mediworks) effectively diagnoses dry eye disease; its clear optics mean the exam can be done remotely. Patients’ responses to all the new gear are amazing.