Optimax eye exam vs. standard eye exam?!
Question: Optimax eye exam vs. standard eye exam?
The Optimax exam requires no dilation but I was told that it is actually better because more of the retina can be visulized.
I am old school and find this hard to believe.
Answers:
I'm an eye doctor and I use and like both. If your pupils are sufficient in size to get a good picture, which most people's are, and if you don't have anything blocking the media, such as cataracts, optimax is fine. The major benefits for the doctor are it's possible to visualize most of the retina all at one time, and you can digitally archive the image for review later. It's good for the patient because there is virtually no visual effect. You can see almost immediately afterwards.
As far as what the doctor sees comparing one to the other, it is actually possible to see more with a dilated exam, but the doctor has to take at least 9 different views to see it all. Even then it's possible to miss something. I don't remember the exact numbers, but the difference in the amount of retina that is seen between a dilated exam and optimax is very minor. I think it was something like 5% difference.
SO, long story short, you're probably totally fine doing the optimax.
Me, im an eye doctor.
Its very uncommon in the UK to use dilation. So much so that in 40 odd years of going to the opticians on a regular basis I have never had one. These days they seem to use retinal photography to get a picture of the back of your eye and keep it digitally on your records.