You probably go to your doctor every year for a physical and schedule regular cleanings at your dentist but, what about your eye heath? Eyes need checkups too! Many eye conditions can be serious and occur painlessly over a short amount of time. Others are slower but difficult for patients to notice at first. As you get older, your risk of developing age-related eye diseases is obviously higher. Individuals that have reduced vision due to age-related eye diseases also have increased risk for falls, injury, and depression compared to those with good vision. In some cases, systemic conditions may present in the back of the eye. These include diabetes, arthritis, heart problems, high blood pressure and cholesterol.
At Cockrell Eyecare, we utilize many technologies to screen for eye health and vision conditions specific to the eye and for those related to systemic health as discussed above. The leading causes of blindness, diabetes, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, are of particular interest and we screen thoroughly for these. Just a few of the technologies we use include:
Corneal Hysteresis: This technology allows the measurement of a characteristic of the cornea that provides your doctor information about your risk for glaucoma. It also provides information regarding treatment. Patients with low hysteresis have a higher risk to develop glaucoma and are more likely to progress faster. Corneal Hysteresis allows your doctor to better diagnose and then tailor your treatment to avoid vision loss.
Macular Pigment Optical Density (MPOD): Macular pigment is comprised of Zeaxanthin and Lutein, which are found in the center of the macula at a natural 2:1 ratio. MPOD (Macular Pigment Optical Density) is a measurement that is important for three specific reasons. First, low macular pigment is a key risk factor for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in people over 60. Second, macular pigment absorbs harmful blue light, protecting the retina from damage. Third, macular pigment improves visual performance, including visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, light sensitivity and glare recovery.
Optomap Retinal Exam
This instrument is one of the most sophisticated retinal imaging technologies available today. The Optomap takes seconds to perform and is usually done immediately prior to seeing your doctor. The retinal image produced from the Optomap exam is unique in that it gives your eye doctor a much larger view (200 degrees) of the inside of your eye vs. conventional eye exam equipment. Each Optomap image provides a unique view of your eye health very quickly, and comfortably. The image is captured in less than one second and is immediately available for your doctor to review with you. The image can be minified, magnified or scrolled through to various views of the retina. The retinal blood vessels, macula and optic nerve can all be evaluated and documented for future comparison. It also allows the doctor to view your retina without you dealing with a continuous blinding light for what feels like forever.
Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive diagnostic instrument used for imaging the retina. It has the ability to detect problems in the eye prior to any symptoms being present in the patient. With an OCT, doctors are able to see a cross section or 3D image of the retina and detect the early onset of a variety of eye conditions and eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The OCT also allows for detection of other diseases such as macular holes, hypertensive retinopathy and optic nerve damage. Using an OCT allows for early diagnosis and treatment in patients and can dramatically improve the success of these treatments.
If you have questions about your eye health and have made a decision to have an eye health and vision exam, please contact our office in Stillwater at 405-372-1715. We also invite you to visit our website at www.cockrelleyecare.com and like us on Facebook at Cockrell Eyecare Center!