Testing
When your doctor needs to evaluate the health of your eyes, we perform the testing for them. Your doctor will order specific tests based on the eye condition they want to be evaluated or they will notify us of what condition they want us to test you for.
Your doctor will promptly receive a report of the interpretation and results of your tests so they can make decisions regarding your eye health and treatment. Your doctor may also request the Eye Testing Specialists perform the testing and manage your eye condition.
Testing commonly ordered:
Visual Field Testing
The Humphrey visual field is a diagnostic test that measures the field of vision. The Humphrey visual field test measures a specific area of vision that can be seen while the eye is focused forward on a center point.
During this test, lights of varying intensities flash in different areas of your vision. When you see a flash of light appear, you will press a button to record the light was seen, much like a hearing test.
This test is performed to determine if there are any defects, or blind spots, in your vision. Visual field defects are extremely difficult to detect without special testing. Patients may have visual defects without any symptoms until they have progressed and become severe resulting in vision loss.
This test can be challenging, the flashes of light are designed to become lighter and lighter until you are unable to see them. This can be confusing at times, patients are instructed to press the button even if they think they see a flash.
Visual fields are often ordered to detect, diagnose, and monitor conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal disease, brain tumors, strokes, diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy, brain injury and trauma, and more.
Ocular Coherence Tomography or OCT
Optical Coherence Tomography is a noninvasive imaging technology used to obtain high resolution cross-sectional images of the retina. The layers within the retina can be differentiated and retinal thickness can be measured to aid in the early detection and diagnosis of retinal diseases and conditions.
OCT testing has become a standard of care for the assessment and treatment of most retinal conditions. OCT uses rays of light to measure retinal thickness. No radiation or X-rays are used in this test, an OCT scan does not hurt and it is not uncomfortable.
Optical Coherence Tomography uses technology that is best compared to ultrasound, except that it employs light rather than sound and thereby achieves clearer, sharper resolution.
You may be given an OCT scan for a variety of reasons, including monitoring of the progress of your disease, verifying or discounting suspected swelling of the retina or checking OCT results against previous results to determine the effectiveness of the current medication.
Optomap Retinal Imaging
Optomap is a unique technology that captures more than 80% of your retina in one panoramic image! This is the same area (the retina) that your eye doctor looks at when they dilate and look inside of your eyes.
This amazing technology gives our doctors a comprehensive, ultra-widefield view that is not possible with traditional imaging methods. Also, optomap provides an exact record of your retinal health, allowing us to track and monitor any changes in your retina, year after year. The Optomap also gives us the ability to detect other health issues based on what we see in your eye.
Optomap vs dilation for healthy eyes what is the difference?
Optomap is a 200-degree image of your retina, which is captured in under ½ second. There is no pain, discomfort, or blurry vision associated with getting an optomap image taken.
On the other hand, during a dilated eye exam, your eyes are dilated with eye drops that may sting. This process leads to blurry vision that often lasts for 4 – 6 hours. It can take up to thirty minutes for your pupils to dilate, then the eye doctor will look into the back of your eye with extremely bright lights. It is possible to see the same structures as with an Optomap, but is far more difficult and causes much more discomfort for the patient.
The Optomap is used for almost every eye disease to obtain images for documentation and future comparison.
Electroretinography
Diopsys ERG (electroretinography) vision tests provide you with objective, functional information on the performance of retinal cells. These test results identify “stressed” cells at a subclinical stage, when the cells have become dysfunctional but are still alive.
Electroretinography testing provides clear, objective, functional results and enable improved patient management, resulting in confident treatment decisions and early detection that leads to better, safer outcomes.
Electroretinography is key because of it’s ability to detect retinal dysfunction before there is vision loss. This early detection allows doctors to start treatment early and preserve vision before loss occurs.
Results from these tests help doctors diagnose and manage disorders like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinal concerns obscured by media opacities, optic neuritis, retinal toxicity from medications, unexplained vision loss, and more.
