Optometric Technology

• Optos
• Oculus Keratograph 5M
• Tear Lab
• Blephex
• iLux
• ZEISS Cirrus OCT 6000
• Huvitz Digital Refractor System
• Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer
• QuantifEye MPS
• Anterior Segment and External Ocular photography
• Smart Mirror

Our Hours

OPTOS

The Optos instrument creates the optomap, which is a high resolution digital image of the inside of the eye. In less than ½ second, this machine takes a picture that:

• Is an anatomically correct 200⁰ or 82% image of the retina
• Gives simultaneous views of the central, mid-peripheral and peripheral retina
• Provides multiple retinal imaging modalities to see more, discover more, and treat more patient diseases and pathologies.

The optomap creates images that become a permanent part of your health history, which is important for long term care. Past images can be compared to track illness progression as well as provide visual examples for discussion between doctor and patient.

Seeing inside the eye is a crucial part of a comprehensive exam because it allows our doctors to look for illness in the eye, indications of disease, and injuries. Many diseases show signs in the eye very early on, and an Optos image offers an opportunity for early treatment.

OCULUS KERATOGRAPH 5M

The Oculus Keratograph uses light emitting diodes (LED) to take high resolution pictures of the surface of the eye. Used for the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of Dry Eye Disease, the Oculus Keratograph helps our doctors see up close details of the surface of the eye, the meibomian glands (tiny glands in the eyelid), and how thick the layer of tears is over the eye.

The Oculus Keratograph is non-invasive and offers multiple ways to examine the eye. Images can be captured with multiple light sources including infrared, which prevents the eye from watering due to bright light.

Images from the Oculus Keratograph provide precise, up close details of Dry Eye Disease and its effect on how the eye is functioning. These images are excellent for discussion between doctor and patient and the tracking of changes over time.

TEAR LAB

Tear Lab is a diagnostic instrument used for measuring the health of your tears and is used in the diagnosis of Dry Eye Disease. Tear Lab provides immediate, objective results about the health of the tears on the surface of the eye. A healthy tear layer is an important part of the clarity of the visual system.

Tear Lab tests for abnormal osmolarity. Osmolarity is an objective measure of the salt concentration in a patient’s tears. The test consists of collecting a small amount of tears with a testing wand which then measures the chemical composition. The test has a positive predictive value of 89%, and is quick and minimally invasive, which is good for patients who might already be experiencing discomfort.

Tear Lab provides chemical analysis in real time allowing doctors and patients to make informed decisions based on objective results. Test result numbers can be tracked and compared over time which is good for long term patient care.

BLEPHEX

Blephex is a hand held wand that optometrists can use to gently clean and remove debris from your eyelids in order to restore healthy function to the Meibomian glands. Meibom oil coats the eyeball with every blink, keeping tears from evaporating too quickly. These glands can become blocked and do not produce enough oil for proper eye health. Unhealthy meibom oil can allow bacteria to grow causing irritation. These conditions can lead to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Dry Eye Disease.

The Blephex is an excellent instrument for our optometrists to help cleanse and restore proper Meibomian function, hopefully, before any permanent or long term damage can occur to the eyelid or eye.

ILUX

iLux is a hand held wand that allows an optometrist to apply direct heat to a patient’s eyelids and clear blockage caused by unhealthy meibomian oil. Meibom oil coats the eye with every blink and prevents tears from evaporating too quickly. If these glands become blocked they do not produce enough oil for proper eye health. 

If there is blockage or unhealthy oil production, the iLux wand is used to apply light-produced heat and gentle compression to clear the blockage from the glands. This restores the glands to healthy oil production

ZEISS CIRRUS OCT 6000

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive high speed imaging test. It uses light waves to take a cross-section picture of your retina. A few of its benefits include:

– high definition photos of the blood vessels inside the eye, allowing for early detection of damage in many diseases, such as diabetes, age related macular degeneration and vein occlusion.

– evaluates diseases of the optic nerve by measuring the nerve fiber layer thickness.  This is the part of the optic nerve most sensitive to damage in diseases such as glaucoma.

– scans through all of the distinctive layers of the macula to detect macular pathology such as age related macular degeneration, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, diabetic macular edema and many others.

Images remain in patients’ files for comparison over time. Past images can be compared to track illness progression and manage treatment as well as provide visual examples for discussion between you and your Highline optometrist.

HUVITZ DIGITAL REFRACTOR SYSTEM

The Huvitz digital refractor system is made up of instruments for measuring how much correction eyes need to see clearly. Highly accurate, digital measurements are taken quickly and easily. The system includes instruments like digital lensometers and digital autorefractors/keratometers.

A keratometer is used to determine if a patient has astigmatism by measuring the image size reflected from two paracentral points on the corneal surface to determine its curvature.

An autorefractor provides an objective measurement of a person’s refractive error and prescription for glasses or contact lenses. This is achieved by measuring how light is changed as it enters a person’s eye.

A lensometer is used to verify the prescription in a pair of eyeglasses, to properly orient and mark uncut lenses, and to confirm the correct mounting of lenses in spectacle frames.

Using digital instruments provides highly accurate measurements quickly without the need for close personal contact.

HUMPHREY VISUAL FIELDS

The Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer is an instrument to test and measure a patient’s field of vision to check for problem areas and signs of diseases, like glaucoma.

Field analyzers test and measure how wide an eye’s field of vision is. Patients sit at the instrument with one eye looking at a target on the screen and hold an indicator tool in one hand. The patient focuses on a central point while the screen flashes small points of light of varying degrees of brightness in the patient’s periphery. The patient indicates they see the flash with the hand held indicator. This test takes 10-15 minutes per eye.

The analyzer then records how many points the patient does and does not see, paying particular attention to areas where diseases like glaucoma typically cause damage.  Many other conditions can be discovered through this test as the fibers of the visual system course through all areas of the brain.  Hence, many times the location of a problem in the brain can be determined by seeing where it is affecting the visual field.

This instrument also allows your optometrist to compare results over time aiding in the management of progressive diseases.

QUANTIFEYE MPS

The QuantifEye MPS is an instrument for measuring the density of the macular pigment (MPOD) in a patient’s eye. The macula is the portion of the eye responsible for sharp vision. Located in the center of the eye, the macula is made up of cells that protect photoreceptors underneath by absorbing blue light – high energy light near the ultraviolet end of the spectrum. Age, poor diet  and stress can reduce these pigments over time.  The thicker the macular pigment, the more protective it is against macular degeneration.

By knowing the patient’s MPOD score, our optometrists can counsel their patient on ways to improve that score and thereby better protect their maculas.

ANTERIOR SEGMENT AND EXTERNAL OCULAR PHOTOGRAPHY

Anterior Segment and External Ocular photography use a variety of instruments to take photographs of physical structures of the eyes to document injuries, conditions of the front surface of the eye and  abnormal structures. Two common components include:

-Slit Lamp (also called a biomicroscope). A slit lamp is an instrument consisting of a high-intensity light source that can be focused to shine a thin sheet of light on or into the eye.

-External Ocular photography. This instrument takes high magnification photos of the exterior of the eye and surrounding areas.

Both instruments are non-invasive and have patients sit upright while a bright light is shone onto the eye. The optometrist moves the light over the eye examining the physical structure of the eye through magnification. High resolution photographs are then taken of any areas of concern for comparison over time.

These instruments provide visual examples which allow for discussion between you and your optometrist. Images are documented in patients’ files and can be compared over time to track illness progression.

SMART MIRROR

Smart Mirror is a digital tool used in the optical department to help patients make informed choices when deciding what lenses and frames are best for their lifestyle. It is especially helpful in choosing progressive lenses which provide different “zones” of vision correction based on lens design, shape, and prescription.

The Smart Mirror also offers:

–Lens comparison – Provides interactive demonstrations and comparisons of the benefits of multiple lens designs

–Custom Measurements – Allows trained opticians to take specialty measurements for fully customized progressive lenses

–Frame photo comparison – Allows customers to take and compare up to 4 photos of how frames look, and even includes a share function to allow feedback from family and friends

-Coatings Education – Provides visualizations of how coatings affect vision. Included are anti-reflective properties, polarization, anti-scratch, anti-static, and waterproofing.