Retinal Imaging: Purpose & Procedure Details

29 Jul.,2024

 

Retinal Imaging: Purpose & Procedure Details

How is retinal imaging performed?

There are three main methods that eye care specialists use to take digital pictures of your eye&#;s fundus (the inner, back surface of your eye). These include:

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  • Color fundus photos. Fundus is another term for the back of the eye. Providers have used fundus cameras for decades to take pictures inside your eye. You&#;ll see bright flashes of light while the camera takes pictures. Advances in technology allow precise digital retinal images in high resolution. Some cameras can also take wide-field views of your fundus, allowing your eye care team to see a larger area of your retina. One strength of this imaging method is its ability to show your blood vessels and reveal signs of diabetes-related retinopathy.
  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT). This is a common imaging test your provider may perform to see cross-sectional views of the layers of your retina in the macula region and optic nerve. This method can show each layer of your retina and measure how thick it is. It can help diagnose conditions like diabetes-related macular edema and macular degeneration.

In all these cases, you sit comfortably in a chair and move your face close to the camera device. Your provider shows you where to place your forehead and chin. Nothing touches your eye during retinal imaging.

Providers sometimes use one or more of the above methods at the same time. They may also use one of the methods along with fluorescein angiography. This technique is minimally invasive. Nothing touches your eyes, but your provider injects a dye into a vein in your arm. This dye travels through your blood vessels, including those in your eyes. It reveals blockages or other problems in those vessels.

What happens before the test?

Your provider will tell you about the procedure and why you&#;re having it. They may ask you to give consent.

Providers usually put drops into your eyes to dilate your pupils. That&#;s because your pupil is the window that the camera sees through to capture pictures of your fundus. A wider pupil typically leads to better images. Make sure you arrange for someone to drive you home. Your vision will be blurry, and you&#;ll be sensitive to light for a few hours after pupil dilation.

What happens during the test?

Retinal imaging, including fundus photography and OCT, is fast and painless. Here&#;s what you can expect:

  1. You&#;ll sit in a chair in front of the imaging device. Your provider will make sure you&#;re comfortable.
  2. You&#;ll position your face so your chin rests comfortably in a chin rest, and your forehead presses gently against a bar.
  3. Your provider will align the camera and begin taking photos. They&#;ll capture images of one eye at a time.
  4. You may need to focus on a green light. The light may be bright and cause brief discomfort as you look at it.
  5. Your provider will tell you when you can sit back from the camera.

Retinal imaging typically takes five to 10 minutes. If your provider uses fluorescein angiography, the process may take up to 30 minutes.

What can I expect after the test?

If your provider dilates your eyes, you&#;ll have blurry vision and sensitivity to light for a few hours. So, give your eyes a rest. Don&#;t drive, read or look at screens. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes when you&#;re outside.

What are the risks of retinal imaging?

Retinal imaging, including fundus photography and OCT, is safe with no known risks. Your provider simply uses a camera to create digital images of your eyes.

Fluorescein angiography is low risk but may cause side effects like temporary skin discoloration (a slight yellow tint) or urine that appears dark yellow to orange. These effects go away within 24 hours.

Rarely, fluorescein may cause an allergic reaction (hives or itching). The risk of anaphylaxis is extremely small. People who are sensitive to fluorescein may experience:

  • Dizziness.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Increased heart rate.
  • Metallic taste in their mouth (brief).
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Sneezing.

How Retinal Imaging Works and Why It's Important

The next time you go for your annual eye checkup, chances are your eye doctor will recommend retinal imaging. This is an additional eye exam that many ophthalmologists are now carrying out. This helps improve the detailed eye exam.


Adding retinal imaging to your eye test may be necessary if you have some conditions. These conditions include diabetes, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration. But even if you do not have these eye conditions, retinal imaging can detect severe eye illnesses early and help you protect your vision.

Are you interested in learning more about Retinal Camera? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

What Is Retinal Imaging?

Retinal imaging or a retinal photograph is a surgery-free and totally safe technique of taking pictures of the back of your eye or retina. The technique allows your eye doctor to have a closer look at your retina, blood vessels, and optic nerve.


There are a few different types of retinal imaging that your eye doctor can use to examine your eye. They include optical coherence tomography (OCT), angiography, and fundus photography. Each of these methods has precise benefits to detecting certain problems in your eye. Your eye doctor will determine the best technique for your specific condition.

How Does Retinal Imaging Work?

Retinal imaging uses low-power lasers to take digital pictures of your retina. The light produced by the lasers goes onto your eye through the pupil. As the light passes through to the retina, it leaves images that are collected by a machine, creating a detailed picture of the retina.


Your eye doctor then looks at these pictures to check what information your retina is revealing about the health of your eye, body, and brain.

Why Is It Important?

Clearer images of the retina make it easier for your ophthalmologist to teach you about your eye health and wellness. You can look at the retinal pictures together and your doctor can identify the different parts of the retina. Then he or she will explain the eye conditions that the pictures reveal and suggest suitable treatment options.


Retinal imaging can reveal the following eye conditions.
 

  • Diabetic retinopathy &#; Diabetes can hurt the blood vessels in your retina and cause vision loss if not treated.

  • Glaucoma &#; This condition causes a buildup of fluid that can damage your optic nerve and cause irreversible vision loss.

  • Age-macular degeneration &#; This illness that comes with age can cause blood or fluid to leak into your retina and make your vision blurry.

  • Cancer &#; A dark spot in your retina may indicate a melanoma. Melanoma can grow inside your retina without being detected. If detected early, the melanoma can be treated before it causes severe damage and spread to other parts of the body. 

  • Retinal detachment &#; Retinas can withdraw from the wall of your eye and cause permanent loss of vision if not treated properly.

  • High blood pressure &#; Symptoms of high blood pressure usually appear first in the retina. Signs can include thinning of the retinal blood vessels, spots, or bleeding in the retina.


For more on how retinal imaging works and why it is important, visit Brandon Eyes at our offices in Middleton or Madison, Wisconsin. You can call (608) 833- or :(608) 833- today to book an appointment.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Laser Retinal Imaging.