The third and final tool in the optometrist’s pre-exam toolbox in this series is called the DRSPlus, or a Confocal Fundus Imaging System. At its core, the DRSPlus is simply a revolutionary diagnostic technology that can take incredibly detailed, high-quality images of your retina!

The retina is located at the back of the eye, also called the “fundus”, and is responsible for converting the light that enters the eye into electrical signals the optic nerve then sends to the brain. The retina is essential to your vision, and damage or disease can lead to vision impairment or blindness. Retinal tears and detachments, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and other common retinal concerns can be addressed at early stages if an optometrist can detect and diagnose issues early.

Retinal issues can be caused by injury to the eye, or degenerative, inflammatory, or genetic diseases, but regardless of the cause, the ability to examine the retina in extremely detailed close-up is nothing short of groundbreaking in terms of diagnosis and treatment.

Retinal Imaging in the Blink of an Eye

The DRSplus uses white LED light to create high-quality retinal images through pupils as small as 2.5mm without dilation! Not only that, but the technology takes full-color images of both of your eyes in less than 10 seconds, and can even take images through cataracts.

The clarity and detail of the images the machine provides allow your eye doctor to make much more accurate diagnostic observations of macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other retinal and eye-related diseases.

Technology For Better Medical Outcomes

Medical and ophthalmological technology has come a long way since one of the earliest ophthalmoscopes was described by Hermann Helmholz in 1851. The DRSplus is another in a wave of technological advances that are designed to improve both diagnostics and treatment.

Incredible innovations in the field of ophthalmology are continually in the works. Tools like the Optovue iVue Optical Coherence Tomography with the potential to offer high-speed, high-resolution scans and reports of the retina, retina nerve fiber layer, and cornea. Or the Orbital Tissue Expander which could help repair damaged eye tissue; Vitamin E Infused Contact Lenses to help reduce symptoms of dry eyes; and Retinal Implants, which are actual, implantable electronic devices designed to stimulate the sensation of vision in individuals with significant retinal diseases and vision loss.

The Optometrist’s Toolbox Unpacked

The Autorefractor, Ocular Response Analyzer or Auto Tonometer, and the Confocal Fundus Imaging System are the three pillars of the eye examination pre-screening. Each tool takes specific measurements and provides specialized imaging and information that your eye doctor then uses to support the findings in the complete eye exam to follow.

With these tools in hand, optometrists are better able to serve their patients, make earlier and more reliable diagnosis, and provide treatment plans with better outcomes than ever before.

Reach out to your eye doctor to set up an appointment today!