This spring, the pandemic abruptly brought global apprehension and uncertainty. Medical practitioners desperately endeavored to navigate increased safety protocols while continuing to provide optimal care for their patients. Consequently, forecasters began to observe that reliance on medical technology solutions that can support safer exam scenarios would dramatically increase. During this challenging transition, Mitch Reinholt, OD discovered that one of his favorite diagnostic tools became more valuable than ever.

In April, Dr. Reinholt found himself with a bare-bones staff, providing some telemedical visits, but ultimately bringing patients in and doing most of the exams on his own. He found that his California helped to expedite exams and reduce patient exposure as well as time in the office. California, like all optomap UWF retinal imaging devices, capture over 200 degrees of the retina in 1/2 second. It provides a dynamic image that can be enlarged and manipulated to see into the retinal layers and with autofluorescence to assess function, as well. Reinholt explained that he could capture the image quickly, then withdraw to review it and evaluate if further diagnostics were required.

Reinholt acquired his California device in 2019 primarily for clinical value and the ability to get unmatched retinal information, but also …

Presently, cataracts are the world’s leading cause of blindness, accounting for approximately 42 percent of all cases. In the United States, more than 25 million Americans are estimated to have cataracts, according to the report Future of Vision: Forecasting the Prevalence and Costs of Vision Problems. As the population in America continues to age, the number of cataract cases are projected to increase by 50 percent to 38.5 million by 2032.

This month, Optos joins Prevent Blindness America in observing Cataract Awareness Month to aid the education surrounding cataracts, and what you should know, as well as the value of UWF imaging for practitioners as a complement to standard approaches for a comprehensive evaluation of retinal health prior to, and following cataract surgery.

What are Cataracts?Inside our eyes, we have a natural lens. The lens refracts light rays that come into the eye to help us see. The lens should be clear. When cataracts are present, the lens becomes cloudy much like looking through a foggy or dusty car windshield. Things look blurry, hazy or less colorful with a cataract.

Vision changes you may notice if you have a cataract:

Having blurry visionSeeing doubleExtra sensitive to lightHaving trouble seeing well at …

Albert Morier, OD, didn’t plan to invest in Optos technology when he first attended The Exchange® at Vision Source in 2013.  But, after the company made its presentation on the main stage, Dr. Morier couldn’t stop thinking about the amazing capabilities of the instrumentation.  Even still, he was a bit wary after making the investment.  He sat down in his next session after signing the purchase agreement where he confided in a colleague he had never met, who previously purchased a Daytona.  “He told me, ‘You made the right move.  I purchased one last year.  You’ll find you sleep better at night.’” In the six years since, Dr. Morier says that advice proves itself time and again at his practice, Consumer Optical in Schenectady, New York.  The optomap® technology has become an integral part of the care he provides, and he’s already seeing the benefits of his upgrade to the California device three months ago with its ease of use for both his staff and his patients. There are several patient experiences with optomap technology that stand out to Dr. Morier.  First, is a patient who he saw at another office.  He was unable to dilate the patient with two …