What is included in the Unlimited Eyecare Plan?

An eye examination is an opportunity for you to discuss all your eye care and vision concerns with your chosen optometrist.  Our Optometrists have all been practicing eyecare for many years and they are experts in their areas.

We will listen, thoroughly examine the health of your eyes, optimise your vision and  make well-thought recommendations on eye care and eye wear based on what you have told us.

We use many different methods to examine the health of the eyes and our advanced technology gives us even greater information to assess your eyes now, but also, in the future, be able to make comparisons and refer onwards if necessary.

Our two main pieces of extra eye care kit are explained below and their benefits.

If you would like any further information, please ask.

Optomap Retinal Imaging

Optomap retinal imaging is a type of advanced technology used by optometrists to capture a wide-angle view of the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It uses a special camera to capture a digital image of the retina, providing a detailed view of the blood vessels, optic nerve, and other structures within the eye.

The Optomap retinal imaging system captures a 200-degree view of the retina in a single image, which is significantly wider than the traditional view obtained through dilated eye exams. This allows optometrists to detect and monitor various eye conditions, including macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal disorders.

The procedure is non-invasive and painless, and typically takes only a few minutes to perform. Patients sit in front of the Optomap camera and look into a small lens. The camera then takes multiple images of the retina, which are combined into a single, high-resolution image.

Optomap retinal imaging can be particularly useful in detecting early signs of eye disease, as it provides a more comprehensive view of the retina. It can also be helpful in monitoring the progression of certain eye conditions over time. Overall, Optomap retinal imaging is a valuable tool for optometrists and ophthalmologists in the diagnosis and management of various eye conditions.

Optical Coherence Tomography - OCT 

OCT is an advanced imaging technology used in ophthalmology to obtain detailed cross-sectional images of the eye. The technology uses light waves to create detailed, high-resolution images of the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

OCT can be used to diagnose and monitor a wide range of eye conditions, including

• Macular degeneration
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Glaucoma
• Optic nerve swelling
• Myopic degenerations
• Other retinal conditions

It is particularly useful in detecting and monitoring changes in the thickness of the retina, which can be an early indicator of eye disease.

During an OCT procedure, the patient sits in front of the OCT machine and rests their chin on a support. The machine scans the eye with a beam of light, and the reflected light waves are used to create a highly detailed image of the retina.

OCT technology is especially useful in diagnosing and monitoring conditions that affect the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for central vision. It can detect early signs of macular degeneration, and can also be used to monitor the progression of the disease over time. OCT is also helpful in monitoring the effects of treatment for various eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema.

But that's not all - OCT can also image the front of the eye.  

Anterior OCT is a type of imaging technology that is used to visualize the front portion of the eye, including the cornea, iris, and anterior chamber. It uses the same basic principles as traditional OCT imaging, but the machine is designed to focus on the structures in the front of the eye rather than the retina at the back of the eye.

Anterior OCT can be used to diagnose and monitor a range of eye conditions, including:

• Corneal diseases
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts

It can also assess the health of the anterior chamber at the front of the eye and measure the thickness of the cornea, which c​​​​​​an be  helpful in the diagnosis and management of various eye conditions.

Overall, OCT is a valuable tool in ophthalmology, providing detailed information about the structure of the eye and helping us fully examine your eyes to aid your future eye health and protect your vision.

The science part - if you are interested

The image below shows a cross section through the macula -this is the central vision portion in the retina - the light sensitive layer at the back of your eye - this is where the world around us is focused, so that we can see.

The retina is made of 12 layers and it's about 0.5mm thick.  The dip in the centre of the image is the macula - this is where your fine vision can be found. The reason it dips is to create a large surface area for the light sensitive cells (mainly cones in this area) and also, the nerve endings are moved to the side to allow a higher concentration of light sensitive cells, creating a more detailed, finer image. These cells are specialised in colours and fine details. However, the cells in the periphery are better at picking up size and motion.

The best example I have used to explain this is:

"Imagine you are sitting in a car driving around, and you see a car coming up behind you to overtake. The peripheral cells in the retina will pick up the size and motion of the car and the macula area will see the colour better and allow you to read the numberplate."

Please note - the retina is not this colour in real life - these are just showing the different layers within the retina.

New research update:

The area in yellow green under the thicker red band is the Choriocapillaris - this is part of the blood supply.  New research is taking place which measures this as they believe it may be linked with determining if a person will become myopic.  

Anterior Eye OCT

This next image is showing a cross section in 3D of the front of the eye

The vertical line is light coming from outside and travelling towards the retina at the back of the inner eye.

The dome at the top is the Cornea

The cornea is a clear, dome-shaped structure that forms the outermost layer of the eye's surface. It covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber, and is the first structure through which light passes as it enters the eye. The cornea acts as a protective barrier to the eye, and plays a crucial role in the eye's ability to focus light.

The gap in the centre where the vertical line is shining, though - this is the pupil and on either side the bumpy, ridged looking sausage coming in horizontally, is the iris - the coloured part of the eye. The iris contracts and relaxes to help control the amount of light entering the eye.  In a bright light, the pupil will be smaller and this is to protect the eye from too much light and reduce glare.

The iris is unique to each individual - like a fingerprint or a rainbow - no two will be the same.  Due to its uniqueness, it can be used in biometric identification systems called iris scanners for security purposes.

The iris is sitting on the anterior surface of the lens - the lens is a transparent, biconvex structure located behind the iris of the eye. Its main function is to focus light onto the retina, which is located at the back of the eye, by changing its shape.

The crystalline lens is flexible and elastic, allowing it to change its shape and thickness in response to the distance of an object being viewed. This process, known as accommodation, is necessary to ensure that light from objects at different distances is focused clearly on the retina.  As we age, the lens looses its ability to stretch, hence the need for spectacles for close work.