Who has been to our office and had one of our team members ask you if you “Would you like to have an eye screen photo taken today?” Some of our existing patients know what the eye screen photo is and why it helps, but if you are new, you might not know. You might be asking yourself “What is it?” “What does it do?” “Do I need it?” If these are some of your questions about the Eye Screen photo, don’t worry, we are here to help.
The Eye Screen Photo – What It Is
The Eye Screen Photo is an image of the inside back of your eye that shows your retinal area, your optic nerve, the optical blood vessels, and your macula. This imaging allows the Doctor to see a much wider digital view. It doesn’t replace a dilated eye exam but adds an additional layer of in-depth analysis.
How It’s Taken – The Experience
Most generally, this photo will be taken at the same time the rest of the annual testing is done. You will be asked to rest your chin on the chin rest of the instrument, tilt your head forward until your forehead rests against the forehead strap, and look at the flashing orange light. As the instrument is adjusted by the technician to the appropriate settings, the flashing light may move locations slightly. Once it is adjusted correctly, the photo is ready to be taken. You will see a bright flash of light as the photo is taken. Try not to blink during the flash. Your eyelashes can interrupt the retinal view if you blink, causing the need to retake the photo. That’s it. That is the process – super simple. There is nothing harmful or painful that can occur while having the eye screen photo taken. It is entirely safe to have done as often as you would like.
Why It Helps
The Eye Screen photo is a great tool to use to track changes in the eye over time. If you have it done annually, as recommended, the doctor will be able to view your retinal eye screen photos and compare them from year to year. This is particularly important if you are diabetic, have macular degeneration or glaucoma, OR if any of these conditions tend to run in your family; start watching for them now. The Eye Screen photo can also help the doctor to detect retinal holes or detachments. All of these conditions mentioned above are serious and can lead to partial vision loss or blindness.
We hope this information has been helpful to you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with further questions. All of us here at Stone Canyon Eye Care are always available to help and answer your questions. We firmly believe in educating our patients.
The content found on this blog is for information purposes only. It is not intended to take the place of professional medical advice from your eye care provider. Always seek treatment from a qualified health care provider with all your eye health and medical questions regarding your health.