Retinal Evaluation and Photography in Manlius and Syracuse, NY
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When it comes to your eyes, even small issues can have a big impact. Fortunately, specialized tests like retinal evaluations can help eyecare professionals detect them. At Savedoff, Ciccone & Davis, Doctors of Optometry, P.C., we provide residents in Manlius and Syracuse, NY, with comprehensive eyecare services. Learn more about our retinal evaluations and photography services.
What Is a Retinal Evaluation?
A retinal evaluation is a professional assessment of the back of your eye, known as the retina. They are also referred to as retinal exams or digital retinal imaging. These tests are designed to help create digital images of the inner eye, allowing eyecare specialists to assess the state of your retina, optic nerve, and other vital areas they would otherwise not be able to view. Retinal photography is often recommended as part of your standard eye examination, helping eye doctors get a comprehensive view.
Before the test, the eye doctor may place eyedrops into your eyes to help dilate the pupils. This is helpful for retinal imaging because wider pupils allow the equipment to capture better images. The test is relatively simple, requiring you to sit in front of the imaging device with your forehead and chin resting in their designated areas. Once you’re comfortable, your eyecare specialist will adjust the camera to the proper position and begin capturing images. While this is happening, you’ll be asked to look at a green light, which will help your eyes focus and prevent unwanted movement. Typically, the test only lasts a couple minutes.
What Can Retinal Imaging Detect?
Retinal exams can help optometrists or ophthalmologists diagnose and detect several ocular diseases. There are hundreds of both eye and systemic diseases that can be detected with a thorough retinal exam. For this reason the eyes are often called, “a window to your health”. These range from common conditions that can impact vision to more serious problems that can affect your overall health. Some things these tests can identify are:
If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, a retinal eye exam can also check to see if the blood vessels around the retinas have suffered any damage, something that may be a result of the disease. It is also an option if your vision is worsening, and your eye doctor is unsure why.
Why Are Retinal Exams Important?
Aside from using a retinal evaluation and retinal imaging to diagnose vision problems, the test is useful in other ways. If you’ve already been diagnosed with a condition, this close examination allows doctors to monitor changes in the retina. That means they’ll be able to tell if a condition is getting worse or if the treatment plan has had a positive effect. Even if you aren’t currently dealing with any eye diseases or conditions, repeated retinal evaluations are an easy way for eye doctors to view subtle changes in the eye over time.
Another reason this exam is a go-to for eyecare professionals is that it is non-invasive and painless. The procedure is quick and simple and doesn’t carry any risk to the patient’s health. Providing high-quality digital images of the back of the eye also makes it easy for doctors to make accurate diagnoses.
How Can Our Team Help?
At Savedoff, Ciccone & Davis, Doctors of Optometry, P.C., we provide retinal exams to help our patients have peace of mind. We use an imaging device to capture detailed photos so our team can help identify any vision problems, sometimes before the patient even experiences symptoms. We may also perform a fundoscopy (also known as an ophthalmoscopy) to get a closer look at the fundus (an area that includes the retina).
Other services we offer include:
We prescribe eyeglasses as well as contact lenses, including both cosmetic and therapeutic options. Gas permeable (GP) contacts are a common choice we recommend to those with irregular eye shapes or those suffering from astigmatism and other conditions.