As mentioned in last weeks Eye to Eye, Cockrell Eyecare utilizes the Optomap Retinal Exam routinely and offers it to each patient having an exam. The actual test is performed immediately prior to you seeing the doctor. The Optomap Retinal Exam is unique in that it gives eye care professionals a much larger view (200 degrees) of the back of your eye (retina and optic nerve) vs. conventional eye exam equipment. Each Optomap image is as individual as fingerprints or DNA and can provide a unique view of your eye health very quickly and comfortably. The Optomap image is captured in less than one second and is immediately available for you and your doctor to review.

Over the last four years at Cockrell Eyecare, this type of exam has greatly benefited our patients. Although we offer the Optomap to all patients, we highly encourage those who have greater than normal eye disease risk to consider the technology. Those include patients with a family history of, or a personal history of, diabetes, vascular disease (including heart disease, high cholesterol, and hypertension), glaucoma, macular degeneration, or collagen vascular diseases i.e., Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. In addition, patients experiencing flashes and floaters, unexplained headaches, recent changes in vision, lazy eye (amblyopia) or those with significantly large prescriptions are all encouraged to have the Optomap exam.

Patients who feel they don't fall into these categories should consider the testing to establish baseline findings for the future. The Optomap retinal exams can be aligned side by side with multiple years of exams being compared. It's like comparing yearly X-rays or MRI's over time. This technology is also important for children for the same reasons.

One of the greatest benefits of this technology is it allows you to see what the doctor sees and helps you understand your eye health better. Being able to visualize diabetic retinopathy, the actual blood vessels leaking, the beginning of, or advancement of damage from glaucoma, macular degeneration, or the beginning of a retinal tear or detachment, can help you to understand your situation more clearly. It allows you to visualize why you may require treatment, the improvement from treatment, or the need for more aggressive treatment.

At Cockrell Eyecare we have had the opportunity to diagnose, initiate treatment, and recommend referrals on hundreds of patients with eye disease through this technology. The ability to share the findings with our patients is very rewarding for both the doctors and the patients. Being able to catch disease situations before the patient experiences symptoms, visual damage, or serious health issues is the most rewarding. We have had the opportunity to do this with many conditions including, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, wet and dry macular degeneration, glaucoma, vitreous floaters, retinal detachments and brain tumors that caused optic nerve swelling. Fortunately, the majority of patients have perfect Optomap results and receive peace of mind knowing this plus an opportunity to learn more about there eyes.

If you are interested in learning more about this technology or would like to have an Optomap on your eyes please contact our offices in Stillwater at 405-372-1715 or Pawnee at 918-762-2573. We also invite you to visit our website at www.cockrelleyecare.com to learn more about us.