Optomap
Retinal Exam

The doctors and team of eye care professionals at Vision Center of Lake Norman and Lifetime Eyecare use the latest in diagnostic technology to provide quality eye health and vision care, including the Optomap retinal exam.  

Optomap Retinal Exam   

A thorough examination of the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, is a vital part of comprehensive eye care.   

The retina is the only place in the body where blood vessels can be seen directly. This means that in addition to eye conditions, signs of other issues which may be happening in the body such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke, can be seen in the retina.   

What is an optomap retinal exam?  

The optomap retinal exam is a digital image of the retina produced by Optos scanning laser technology. It is the only technology that can capture 82% view of your retina at one time.  Getting an optomap retinal exam is painless and is safe for both children and adults. Nothing touches your eye at any point during the scan.  

To have the exam, you will be asked to look into device one eye at a time, and you’ll see a flash of light which will let you know that the image of your retina has been taken. The scan takes less than a second to complete.  

What are the benefits of getting an optomap? 

If you choose to get an optomap scan and do not have any retinal disease symptoms or risk factors, you may be able to skip having your eyes dilated during your exam.

Early signs of disease can be present in the periphery of the retina and remain undetected for a long time when using traditional methods. While traditional methods typically only show 15% of the retina at one time, the optomap ultra-widefield retinal image captures more than 80% of the retina in a single image. The unique optomap ultra-widefield view helps your doctor detect early signs of retinal disease more effectively and efficiently than with traditional eye exams.   

Your digital scan will be a permanent record for your medical file, so that your doctors can track changes in your eyes over time. It is generally recommended that an optomap is taken during every comprehensive eye exam.    

Optomap retinal exams are non-invasive and safe for pregnant women and children.