True or False? Today’s retinal imaging devices can reveal all layers of the retina.

The good news is—this is true! Today’s technology has revolutionized how doctors treat your eyes. You might be wondering, why look at the retina? Allow us to break retinal imaging down for you.

Why Look at the Retina?

As you may know, the retina is the delicate tissue in the back of the eye. Its function is often compared to that of film in a camera.

Light comes through the eye’s lens and hits the retina, which produces a picture that is sent to your brain, allowing you to see. The retina is the only place in the body where blood vessels can be viewed directly without invasive procedures. In addition to eye conditions, signs of other potential health problems can be detected by looking at the retina.

With that said, doctors use retinal imaging to get look at what’s going on in your eyes & body.

How does Retinal Imaging Work?

Digital retinal Imaging is a noninvasive, painless approach that allows doctors to get a clear picture of your retina. Doctors are then able to assess the health of your eyes. This image is also used as a baseline to track any changes in the future.

Tracking changes to the retina is vital because many eye conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration are diagnosed by detecting these changes over time. In addition, conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure can also be detected.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is the latest advancement in imaging. This scan uses a laser to analyze the back of the eye for any sign of eye disease. The scan provides doctors with a color-coded, cross-sectional image of the retina. An OCT scan is noninvasive and painless.

Consult with your local eye care provider to learn more about retinal imaging available to you.