Retinal Photography
Stereoscopic color retinal photography is frequently used to document the appearance of a retinal abnormality identified during the clinical examination. High quality images can be captured on color slide film and stored indefinitely by your doctor, to be used as a point of reference for future comparison in charting the course of a variety of retinal conditions. They are also often used in conjunction with retinal angiography (see below) to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of many medical retinal disorders such as diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, other retinal circulatory disturbances or ocular tumors.

Fluorescein Angiography
Intravenous injection of a fluorescent dye followed by a rapid, timed sequence of retinal photographs provides images of the retinal blood vessels at work. Dye passes first through the arteries, reaching the capillaries next and finally leaving the retinal circulation through the veins. Looking through the timed sequence of photos allows your doctor to draw many conclusions regarding the function of the retinal blood vessels. Of primary importance is the identification of dye leakage from previously normal blood vessels which are now diseased (such as in diabetic retinopathy) or from new abnormal blood vessels (such as in macular degeneration). Angiography serves not only a diagnostic purpose but also is a very important guide to the treatment of many retinal disorders. For example, by first pinpointing the source of leakage photographically, laser treatment can often be used effectively to cauterize the leaking blood vessels in an effort to reduce or eliminate the risk of visual loss posed by the leakage.

ICG Angiography
Indocyanine green (ICG) is an intravenous dye which has been used for many years to study blood flow in the heart. In the past several years, techniques have been developed to use ICG to image ocular blood vessels, especially those under the retina in a vascular layer called the choroid. Leaky or abnormal blood vessels in the choroid are a common problem for people with macular degeneration, but traditional fluorescien angiography is sometimes unable to clearly identify these abnormal blood vessels under the retina. Because of its unique properties, ICG is able to delineate this process more clearly in as many as 40% of patients in whom fluorescein angiography is inconclusive.

Surgical Planning
Utilization of 3001 Eye Care’s 3D HMD to display or overlay images of the optic nerve head and retina is likely to increase procedural planning and efficiency. Use of this technology will provide surgeons an “in vivo” assessment of the retina before ever making an incision.

Patient Education
Patient compliance is often an issue in the management of ocular diseases, such as glaucoma. Patient education simulators using 3001 Eye Care’s HMD would allow patients to view the progressive changes that are occurring in their eyes, and it is well known that increased patient education leads to better compliance and outcomes. Employing 3001 Eye Care’s PhysioVision HMD for use in direct and long distance patient education initiatives is likely to prove be an important, immersive, and useful adjunct to current patient educational techniques.