Technology-Advanced Eye Care Services

Optometrists in Wetaskiwin, Alberta

We use the most up-to-date technology to provide you with the best eye care possible. Many eye diseases, if detected at an early stage, can be treated successfully without significant vision loss. Your images will be stored electronically, and this permanent record is vital when looking for changes in your retina and optic nerve over time. Many eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration are diagnosed by detecting changes over time. Here are some of the different types of tests and equipment you may experience when visiting our clinic.

OPTOS Retinal Photos (Wide-Field Retinal Imaging) https://www.optomap.com/

Regular eye exams are vital to maintaining your vision and overall health. We offer Optomap® photos as an important part of our eye exams. The Optomap® captures an image of your retina that the doctor will analyse to determine the health of your retina and optic nerve. This image is as unique as your fingerprint and we can archive your images for future reference. The retina is the part of your eye that captures the image of what you are looking at, like film in a camera.

Many eye problems can develop without your knowledge. You many not even notice any changes in your sight, especially if only one eye is affected. Diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal tears and detachments and other systemic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and multiple sclerosis can be seen during a thorough exam of the retina.

You will have an opportunity to view and discuss the Optomap® image of your eye with your doctor at the time of your exam. The images will be become a permanent record in your file, which allows us to view your images at each exam to look for changes.

The Optomap® retinal photo is fast, easy, and comfortable for all ages. To capture the photo, you simply look into the instrument until you see a comfortable flash of light to let you know that the image of your retina has been taken.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

An Optical Coherence Tomography scan (OCT) is the latest advancement in imaging technology. Similar to ultrasound, this diagnostic technique employs a light wave, instead of a sound wave, to achieve very high-resolution scans of the structural layers at the back of the eye.

A scanning laser is used to analyze the layers of the retina and optic nerve to reveal sign of eye disease. It uses light without radiation, and is essential for early diagnosis of glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease.

The OCT scan is a non-invasive, painless test, and only takes a few minutes.

Visual Field Testing

A visual field test measures the limits of your peripheral or side vision to assess if you have any blind spots, peripheral vision loss or visual field abnormalities. It is a straightforward and painless test that does require you to follow instructions and concentrate on what you are seeing.

An initial visual field screening test involves placing your chin or a chin rest and pressing a button when you see a shimmer of light. This test only takes a couple of minutes. If you have any errors on this test, we will ask you to return for a similar test that takes a bit longer (around 20 minutes) and is more comprehensive. These instruments create a computerized map of your visual field and identify if and where you have any deficiencies.

Corneal Mapping

Corneal topography is a non-invasive medical imaging technique for mapping the surface curvature of the of the cornea. The three-dimensional map that is created is a valuable aid to the doctor and can assist in the diagnosis and treatment of poor vision that cannot be explained by other means, and dry eye. It is also used in the fitting of specialty contact lenses and in pre and post LASIK surgery exams.

Dry Eye Testing

There have been many recent developments in testing for Dry Eye Disease (DED). We utilize two lab tests on your tears. InflammaDry detects elevated levels of MMP-9 which is an inflammatory marker that is elevated in patients with DED. Tear osmolarity testing evaluates the concentration of dissolved salts in your tears which become elevated in patients with DED. We have instrumentation that allows us to evaluate your non-invasive tear breakup time (NIBUT) or how stable your tear film is. We also employ meibography which allows us to view the meibomian (oil) glands in your eyelids to see how healthy they are. Poor functioning meibomian glands is the leading cause of DED, accounting for more than 85% of cases. Call our office for an appointment if you are concerned about dry eye.