DIAGNOSTIC FOCUS

CAPTURE DISEASE PROGRESSION

RETINAL IMAGING DEVICE’S MULTIPLE CONFOCAL MODALITIES PROVIDE A FULL PICTURE

AS A MEDICAL optometrist with a practice in a retirement community, I perform about five diabetic exams a day. Diabetes is prevalent, with 9.3% of the population having the disease, according to the most recent data from the American Diabetes Association. To better manage an increasing diabetic case load and other ocular pathologies, such as AMD and glaucoma, I began using the EIDON (CenterVue) wide-field retinal imaging system.

OVERVIEW

EIDON is a wide-field scanning ophthalmoscope system. It enables a peripheral view out to 110° in automatic mode and 150° in manual mode. I can also get a rapid 60° central image of the retina for a careful assessment of the macula and optic nerve. Using high-resolution images, I examine peripheral retinal pathology, which is an important predictor of who will progress to proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

EIDON has multiple confocal imaging modalities. It uses white light to produce true color imaging, resulting in an undistorted image of the retina; red-free to enhance visibility of the retina vasculature; and infrared, via the device’s programmable fixation target, to provide images of deeper layers (choroid).

EIDON wide-field mosaic view of branch retinal vein occlusion.

PROCEDURE AND TRAINING

In automated mode, the optical head finds the patient’s eye and focuses and captures the image with the push of a button. In manual mode, steer the EIDON camera to center on an area of concern. View the retina on the screen, and use your finger and the camera’s touch screen to direct the camera right to the pathology.

The test takes about 3 minutes to acquire a three-field mosaic on both eyes. The technician takes the images and calls them up on the monitor in the exam room before the doctor completes the ocular health assessment.

Any member of my clinical staff can use the system with a few minutes of training, which a CenterVue representative provided.

PRACTICE BENEFITS

While a larger pupil is ideal for optimal image acquisition, for patients younger than age 60, EIDON captures images with dilation-free operation. The EIDON can clearly image pupil sizes down to 2.5 mm.

EIDON gathers sharp images of the retinal vessels and macula, even when cataract is present. I use these images as an educational tool to explain a diagnosis. When patients can see what is going on, they are more inclined to comply with treatment.

INCREASED DIAGNOSTIC EFFICIENCY

EIDON both enhances exams and allows me to offer a high standard of care to all my patients. Specifically, for my diabetic patients, its sharp images of the retinal vessels allow early detection of background diabetic retinopathy. OM

DONALD J. SIEGEL, O.D., practices in North Phoenix and Sun City West, Ariz. He served as director of the research clinic at Bausch + Lomb and director of clinical affairs for CooperVision. Dr. Siegel also speaks on behalf of CenterVue. Visit tinyurl.com/OMcomment to comment.