SYLMAR VISION CENTER
The Vision Center's
Examining Instruments
Canon Digital Retinal Photography
We
now take retinal photographs. All patients over 35 and all patients
who do not achieve 20/20 vision will have pictures of their retinas
taken. The Canon digital retinal camera has proven to be one of the
greatest additions to our instrumentation. It allows us to take
incredible digital photographs of the retina, allows for
magnification almost to capillary levels and provides us with the
opportunity to study your retina in many ways never before possible
.
This new
camera system with ultra high resolution has proven very useful in
diagnosing diabetes, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, macula
degeneration, retinal tears, breaks and detachments among many other
eye problems.
Humphrey Visual Field Testing
The
new Humphrey Visual Field Testing System (left) is able to detect
even the slightest change in peripheral vision. This works together
with our Reichert auto-tonometer (not shown) which measures the
pressure of the fluid inside the eye. These readings are critical in
the diagnosis of Glaucoma.
Nikon Auto-Refractor
We take pride in the precision eye examinations our state-of-the-art equipment allows. The fully computerized Nikon auto-refractor (left) provides invaluable information about a patients eyes without the possible problems associated with age, language, or physical handicaps. This instrument allows our doctor's to concentrate on total eye health along with the prescription for glasses or contact lenses. It produces a print-out of the eye's refractive power.
The Nikon auto-lensometer (not shown) is able to read any prescription, even from broken lenses, with incredible accuracy. This eliminates the common error associated with attempting to read a prescription by hand.
Nikon Video Biomicroscope
The
NIKON VIDEO BIOMICROSCOPE (slit lamp) allows our doctors to see the
eye in an entirely new manner. We are able to magnify the eye up to
100 times and then show you the image on a high resolution video
screen. The old phrase, "A picture is worth a thousand words",
applies even more so here. Our staff can always tell you what may be
wrong with an eye but now you can see this yourself. Also this
instrument has proven invaluable in documenting progressive changes
in eye conditions such as Pingueculum and Pterygium growth.
Zeiss Corneal Topographer
One of our newest instruments, the Atlas 9000 Corneal Topographer, has proven to be of great value. This was originally designed to assist with Laser Vision Correction. Laser clinics utilize its information and incredible color printouts to guide the laser during surgery. It has become equally valuable in detecting the most microscopic of corneal changes. This instrument has become critical in detecting patients with Keratoconus, distorted corneas and other potentially severe corneal problems.
It is also used in the fitting of Gas Permeable contact lenses. The pictures on the video screen above demonstrate a small cone keratoconic patient. This person was very difficult to diagnose and impossible to fit with contact lenses until we received this new instrument. The information gathered by the topographer allowed this patient to get comfortable contact lenses with clear vision for the first time in 20 years.