With the right retinal camera, ophthalmologists can more accurately diagnose and treat diseases of the eye. A retinal camera, or fundus camera, allows practitioners to view the retina in deeper detail and store results for further study and comparison. More importantly, both the practitioner and the patient can review clearer, more in-depth analyses of the condition, and furthermore, take next steps for treatment.
Get a Bigger, Better Picture
Modern day fundus cameras are simple-to-use, revolutionary devices that capture detailed images necessary for maintaining ongoing eye health and addressing eye disease at earlier stages. A non-mydriatic fundus camera:
- Makes use of the retina’s reflective properties to show details and store images that are superior to slit lamps and other commonly-used tools.
- Does not require pupil dilation in the majority of cases, and is painless for patients.
- Provides early detection and monitoring of a number of serious eye health conditions, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, high blood pressure, damage caused by multiple sclerosis, and diabetic retinopathy.
- Offers images that visually add to ophthalmologist notes, and creates a fuller picture of eye health that can be shared with other physicians easily in the collaborative management of patient health.
- Is easy to operate with little training required.
- Offers a wide angle of the targeted retina.
- Has different filters to choose from for the purposes of image enhancement.
The non-mydriatic fundus camera does not:
- Provide stereoscopic capability.
- Detect abnormalities that are outside of the field viewed.
- Artifact from under- and over-exposure.
- Garner third-party coverage from most providers without concurrent eye exams.
According to Dr. Mahsa Salehi, clinical faculty member in ophthalmology at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, AOA guidelines “mention that fundus photography provides documentation and is the best routine approach to establish a baseline for routine comparisons.” Furthermore, she said, “They further point out that fundus photography is a more reproducible technique than the clinical exam for detecting posterior segment disease. It is not, however, medically necessary to document the existence of a condition, but medically necessary to establish the baseline to judge later if a disease is progressive.”
One study evaluating a non-mydriatic widefield imaging system showed positive predictive values as high as 97% and negative predictive values up to 75% in the case of diagnosing retinal pathology. Having a clear baseline of a patient’s eye health, as Dr. Mahsa Salehi stated, accounts for these high percentages in predictive values.
To learn more about fundus cameras, visit our blog; Why an Eye Exam Should Include a Fundus Camera. Or, check out Coburn’s user-friendly SK-650A Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera, that will capture high-resolution images needed to diagnose and treat your patients. Contact us to find out more. We can get you started on implementing the right fundus device into your practice.
