New Retinal Camera Technology Promises Accurate Detection of Eye Conditions

Kelowna, BC -- (SBWire) -- 12/30/2015 --Tutt Street Optometry, a local eye care clinic based out of Kelowna, British Columbia, with a long-held reputation for top-notch patient care and a tech focused approach to eye care, has recently announced the addition of their latest state-of-the-art piece of equipment, the Cannon Retinal Camera.

In explaining briefly about what the Retinal Camera is used for and how it works, Dr. Greg Wallace, of Tutt Street Optometry relates, "The retinal camera is used to take photographs of the back of the eye or retina, which is the neurosensory tissue in our eyes that translates the optical images we see into electrical impulses that our brain understands. The retinal camera is a specialized low power microscope with an attached camera. The retina can be photographed directly through the pupil, which is used for both an entrance and exit for the cameras illuminating and imaging rays. Many eye diseases can be discovered with this type of photography, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal vascular diseases such as diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy and optic nerve swelling."

Dr. Wallace and his associates also see the advantages that the new Cannon Retinal Camera brings to the practice, and the positive reception that this addition has gotten from patients. Dr. Wallace comments, "Retinal photography definitely improves comprehensive exams compared to when we did not have this technology. The greatest factor that is appreciated, is the ability for us as practitioners, to be able to monitor accurately for subtle changes and look back over time with previous images to help us decide if, how much and what rate of change has occurred. This allows us to formulate an appropriate treatment plan for the patient. With previous chart recording alone, it proved to be subjective, with differences from practitioner to practitioner, which made it more challenging to know with confidence if there was a change in one's condition. The most exciting part of this technology, however, is the patient education component of the photography. It is extremely valuable to be able to show patients their eye condition, so that they can better understand what we are monitoring and/or treating. patients definitely appreciate this technology, as most find it very interesting to be able to visualize the back of their eyes to allow them to understand their eye condition or simply show them that their eyes are healthy, especially if they have family histories of certain eye diseases that they are concerned about."

Dr. Wallace recommends all patients over the age of 40 receive a comprehensive eye exam that includes retinal photography, since this is the time at which patients come to be at higher risk for the types of eye conditions that retinal photography is designed to detect.