Retina

Eye wellness is a big part of staying healthy. The eyes can give us valuable information very early on, about many general health problems in the body and brain.

Eye Q Optometrist offers several examinations that are designed to detect early problems that a routine exam cannot.

We use highly sophisticated computer systems and cameras to capture extensive medical analysis of your eyes and visual systems. These measurements can assist us in the early detection of many disorders, ie: brain tumors, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachments, and glaucoma.

Use the buttons below to learn more about each of the tests:

Our Wellness program consists of 3 tests and takes approximately

5-8 minutes.

Program Fees: Full Program: $64 (includes all 3 Wellness Tests)

What is a visual field test?

Visual field testing is most frequently used to detect signs of glaucoma damage to the optic nerve. In addition, visual field tests are useful for the detection of central or peripheral retinal diseases of the retina, eyelid conditions such as drooping (ptosis), optic nerve damage and disease, and conditions affecting the visual pathways from the optic nerve to the area of the brain (occipital cortex) where this information is processed into vision.

The following are uses of visual field testing:

Screening for glaucoma: Peripheral vision loss is often an early and subtle sign of glaucoma. Visual field tests are helpful in detecting vision loss and making the diagnosis of glaucoma, and repeat testing is used to monitor treatment.
Screening and testing for lid droop (ptosis)
Testing for toxicity from certain medications (for example, screening for toxicity from hydroxychloroquine [Plaquenil], which can affect the central retina)
Measuring the extent of retinal diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa
Detecting conditions affecting the optic nerve, such as tumors, injury, poor circulation or stroke, optic neuropathy, swelling of the optic nerve (optic neuritis), compression from swelling in the eye socket or orbit, and severe nutrient deficiencies
Detecting conditions that affect the visual pathways from the optic nerves to the occipital lobe of the brain, including tumors, inflammatory disease, increased intracranial pressure, injury, poor circulation, or stroke
Testing for malingering behavior or factitious disorders

How is a visual field testing procedure performed?

There are a variety of methods to measure the visual fields. During an eye exam, visual field testing is performed one eye at a time, with the opposite eye completely covered to avoid errors. In all testing, the patient must look straight ahead at all times in order accurately map the peripheral visual field. Most modern visual field testing devices also continuously monitor fixation, or the ability of the patient to maintain a consistent straight ahead gaze.

The iWellness scan is an easy-to-read report that displays the thickness of your retina and your ganglion cell complex as compared to a database of normal eyes. These metrics along with a high-resolution image and symmetry analysis help to identify if you are displaying the early signs of retinal disease or glaucoma.

Sight threatening diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and others often have no outward signs or symptoms, which is why eye exams, including a thorough retinal evaluation, are important to protect vision. In an effort to provide a more thorough eye exam, our practice has incorporated the iWellnessExam™ SD- OCT retinal scan as part of our comprehensive eye exams.

Like an MRI of the eye, but totally painless and taking only seconds to perform, the iWellnessExam™ provides high definition cross-sections of your retina which can reveal ocular anatomy and signs of disease in exquisite and stunning detail.

The iWellnessExam™ technology allows our doctors to see with unprecedented clarity what is invisible with traditional examination methods.

Any questions you have about these tests can be discussed during your examination with any of our Eye Q Optometrists.

* The iWellness program is an eligible expense for Flexible Spending Accounts

Normal retinal cross-section iWellness OCT.

Diseased retina, visible to iWellness OCT exam often invisible to ophthalmoscopy

Retinal Photo documentation of your optic nerve, blood vessel, and the macula (fovea) is used to study and compare changes over time.

Why is a healthy retina so important for overall vision and wellness? Unhealthy retinas are not capable of sending clear signals to your brain which can result in vision loss or impairment. There are many retinal conditions and diseases, but most can be treated when they are found early. Comprehensive eye exams are able to detect problems with the retina early-on to help you avoid serious diseases and complications. We recommend you visit your eye doctor annually or biannually to keep your eyes healthy. With retinal problems, you may not notice any symptoms even when a retina is threatened. Your retina has no nerve endings so you may not feel any pain and may continue to see sharply even though your retina is impaired. Problems with your retina can be a result of the following conditions or diseases:

High Myopia
Retinal Detachment
Diabetic Retinopathy
Age-related Macular Degeneration
Glaucoma or Hypertension

Retinal Problems

Did you know that there are at least 29 retinal problems that could occur if you don’t keep your eyes healthy? A common retinal problem some people experience is retinal detachment. The American Academy of Ophthalmology tells us that the middle of our eye is filled with a clear gel called vitreous. Tiny clumps in this gel may form, casting shadows on our retina, and causing us to see floaters. Other times, this gel may shrink, pulling on the retina a bit. That could cause us to see flashes or to be “seeing stars”. These are common instances and do not generally do us any harm. However, if the vitreous—or the clear gel—moves too far away from the retina, it can tear the retina, allowing fluid to leak into the tissue. This will cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye much like wallpaper that is peeling. Your retina cannot send proper signals to the brain and your vision will become blurry. This can lead to blindness quickly if left untreated.

Diabetic retinopathy is another common condition, but usually only occurs in those who have diabetes. Diabetes can damage blood vessels in the eyes over time, causing them to leak blood or fluid, which will, in turn, cause the retina to swell. This will cause blurry vision and must be treated to regain that vision.

Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness in people. The macula is the retina’s central part that receives images and focuses vision, where the information will then be sent to the brain. Macular degeneration is the deterioration of the central part of the retina vital to clear vision. Dark spots in your vision will begin to appear until blindness sets in. There is no cure for this, but you can protect your eyes by wearing proper prescription-grade sunglasses and indoor glasses to protect your eyes from blue light (such as from phones, TVs, and other electrical devices).

Glaucoma causes fluid buildup in the front part of your eye, which will then put pressure on the optic nerve. In many cases, the optic nerve will be damaged and electrical impulses cannot be sent properly to the brain, resulting in blurry vision or blindness. The good news? Glaucoma can be treated and blindness can be prevented with early treatment. Hypertension is closely tied to glaucoma, as it usually causes glaucoma to set in. Ocular hypertension is when fluid does not properly drain in the front part of the eye, causing that buildup and pressure that will eventually damage the optic nerve.