These days, many eye care specialists offer retinal imaging, but most people are not sure if the service is necessary for them. Well, chances are that you may not need retinal imaging, but the test provides another way to examine your eye health in a more detailed way.

 

Retinal imaging can be helpful if you are at high risk for retinal illnesses. Your eye doctor may recommend the test if you have diabetes, retinal toxicity, macular degeneration, or glaucoma. Please note that the test is not a substitute for a regular eye checkup. It allows a broader and more accurate look at your retina to detect eye diseases early.

 

What Is Retinal Imaging?

Retinal imaging is a painless diagnostic exam that uses a high-resolution camera to take colored pictures of the back of your eye. The pictures give your doctor a closer look at the inner parts of your eye and help them take note of changes to your eye health and vision. Your optometrist can use optical coherence tomography (OCT), angiography, or fundus photography techniques to examine your eye.

 

Why Is Retinal Imaging Necessary?

Pictures of the back of your eye will show your retina, blood vessels, and optic nerve. The images let your eye doctor detect certain eye or health issues and treat them early to prevent them from becoming severe. Retinal imaging is non-invasive and appropriate for all ages. Here is why the test is necessary.

 

The Early Symptoms of Most Eye Conditions Appear in the Retina

With retinal imaging, your doctor can see symptoms of eye conditions that could not be detected before. Eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age macular degeneration, and detached retina can be detected with retinal imaging.

 

All these eye illnesses need quick medical care to prevent vision loss. Moreover, retinal imaging is a computerized procedure. This means that any retina-related diseases are automatically examined, diagnosed, and saved by a computer. This leaves little room for human error.

 

Many Health Conditions Are First Detected in the Retina

Signs of high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, and some forms of cancer are first evident in the retina. This is well before other signs appear throughout the body. Detecting such health issues early is vital in treating them. This retinal imaging can mean the difference between a fast and easy solution and a more widespread, problematic treatment.

 

Saves Results for Future Assessments

Retinal imaging uses a computer to examine, diagnose, and store the results of your test. This enables your eye doctor to compare your test results every year during your annual eye exam. This aspect of retinal imaging is important in monitoring treatment outcomes. It also tracks the progress of diseases and notices any irregularities quickly.

 

Is the Test Necessary?

There is no good reason to avoid taking the test during your annual comprehensive eye checkups. Retinal imaging is fast and painless, and its benefits outweigh its costs. Think of it as your first line of defense against numerous different threats to your health.

For more on retinal imaging, contact Sacramento Eye Consultants at our office in Sacramento or Lincoln, California. You can call (916) 915-0300 today to schedule an appointment.