RETINAL IMAGING

As part of our commitment to maintain our high standards of clinical eye care, we invest in the latest technology available.

Your retina, located in the back of your eye, is the only place in the body where blood vessels can be seen directly. This means that in addition to eye conditions like macular degeneration and glaucoma, signs of other diseases such as, stroke, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes can also be seen in the retina. Because the early signs of these conditions occur long before you notice any changes to your vision, or feel pain, a thorough screening of your eye health is critical.


Technological advances in diagnostic tools and treatments have made many changes to clinical optometry care. We readily embrace these advances and are excited to be able to offer our patients the latest technology to diagnose, manage and treat many eye conditions. 


Click on the buttons below for more information about common eye conditions we can diagnose and monitor with our scanning and imaging technology.

At our practices we offer the following retinal imaging, scans and further eye assessments:

  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Scanning

    Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a sophisticated scanning system that produces highly detailed images of the eye. Often likened to an MRI of the eye, an OCT scan allows us to view 3D, cross-sectional images of the retina, the innermost layers of your eyes but in a much higher resolution than either MRI or ultrasound can produce. This allows us to monitor many sight threatening ocular conditions. An OCT takes just minutes to complete, and in most cases no drops or preparation are required.

  • Optos Ultra-Wide Retinal Imaging

    The Optos Optomap Ultra-Wide Digital Retinal Imaging is the most advanced technology in retinal imaging. The optomap system allows our Optometrists to capture more than 80% of your retina in one panoramic image. Traditional methods typically reveal only 10-15% of your retina at one time, so this is an exceptional difference. We will store your digital images to use for comparison at future visits to compare and pinpoint any changes over time.

  • Retinal Photography

    We have been making use of retinal photography for many years and are highly skilled in its use; taking photos is one thing but accurate and careful analysis of the results is the key to effectiveness. Digital retinal imaging uses high-resolution imaging systems to take photographs of the inside of your eye. This allows your optometrist to assess the health of your retina and to detect and manage eye and health conditions.

  • Visual Fields Assessment

    A Visual Field test is an eye examination that can detect dysfunction in central and peripheral vision which may be caused by various medical conditions such as glaucoma, stroke, pituitary disease, brain tumours or other neurological

    deficits.

  • Oculus Dry Eye Assessment (The Range Practice Only)

    Correctly diagnosing the specific cause of a Dry Eye is essential to create a successful management plan so that both greater eye comfort and sharper vision can be achieved. At Somerville and Merrin Optometrists, we offer a comprehensive assessment of your dry eyes with our new Oculus K5 device which allows our Optometrists to correctly diagnose the specific cause of your Dry Eye Syndrome.


    For more information on Dry Eye Syndrome, the Oculus Assessment and treatment options, click here.

  • Topography Measurements (Hume St Practice Only)

    The corneal topographer is a highly specialised instrument for measuring the curvature of the cornea (the rounded clear window at the front surface of the eyeball). Primarily, this scan is used to determining whether a specially designed contact lens, for example a rigid or ortho-keratology lenses, would be suitable for the patients eye. It is also used to diagnose and monitor the progression of eye diseases such as keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration or where vision has been compromised due to scar tissue causing corneal irregularity. It is also useful in helping diagnose ocular surface disorders including dry eye, which can result in fluctuating vision. 

RETINAL IMAGING SCANS & FURTHER ASSESSMENTS

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a sophisticated scanning system that produces highly detailed images of the

eye. Often likened to an MRI of the eye, an OCT scan allows us to view 3D, cross-sectional images of the retina, the

innermost layers of your eyes but in a much higher resolution than either MRI or ultrasound can produce. This allows us to monitor many sight threatening ocular conditions. An OCT takes just minutes to complete, and in most cases no drops or preparation are required.

The Optos Optomap Ultra-Wide Digital Retinal Imaging is the most advanced technology in retinal imaging. The optomap system allows our Optometrists to capture more than 80% of your retina in one panoramic image. Traditional methods typically reveal only 10-15% of your retina at one time, so this is an exceptional difference. We will store your digital images to use for comparison at future visits to compare and pinpoint any changes over time.

We have been making use of retinal photography for many years and are highly skilled in its use; taking photos is one thing but accurate and careful analysis of the results is the key to effectiveness. Digital retinal imaging uses high-resolution imaging systems to take photographs of the inside of your eye. This allows your optometrist to assess the health of your retina and to detect and manage eye and health conditions.

A Visual Field test is an eye examination that can detect dysfunction in central and peripheral vision which may be caused by various medical conditions such as glaucoma, stroke, pituitary disease, brain tumours or other neurological

deficits.

Correctly diagnosing the specific cause of a Dry Eye is essential to create a successful management plan so that both greater eye comfort and sharper vision can be achieved. At Somerville and Merrin Optometrists, we offer a comprehensive assessment of your dry eyes with our new Oculus K5 device which allows our Optometrists to correctly diagnose the specific cause of your Dry Eye Syndrome.


For more information on Dry Eye Syndrome, the Oculus Assessment and treatment options, click below.

Dry Eye Syndrome

The corneal topographer is a highly specialised instrument for measuring the curvature of the cornea (the rounded clear window at the front surface of the eyeball). Primarily, this scan is used to determining whether a specially designed contact lens, for example a rigid or ortho-keratology lenses, would be suitable for the patients eye. It is also used to diagnose and monitor the progression of eye diseases such as keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration or where vision has been compromised due to scar tissue causing corneal irregularity. It is also useful in helping diagnose ocular surface disorders including dry eye, which can result in fluctuating vision.