Optomap Retinal Exam Vs. Dilation

Visit your Knowledgable Bellevue Optometrist Today!

We are proud to offer our patients access to the Optos, a fast and painless procedure that allows us to examine the health of the retina quickly and efficiently, often without dilation. Using the Optos, we take pictures of the retina to compare the health of the optic nerve, macula, and blood vessels at future visits. This advanced technology allows us to better diagnose diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, or cancer of the eye.

The Optomap allows the doctor to take a 200-degree image of the retina in a single shot without any side effects.   Dilation, on the other hand, requires drops to enlarge the pupils in order to get a view of the retina.   The side effects of dilation, which tends to last at least 2-3 hours, include blurred near vision and extreme sensitivity to bright lights.

An additional benefit of the Optomap is the introduction of a technology called autofluorescence.   Autofluorescence allows the doctor to take images of the deeper layers of the retina, where diseases such as macular degeneration, Stargardt’s Disease, and retinitis pigmentosa begin.