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Evaluation and Diagnosis

Examination of the retina by the ophthalmologist is the most essential component of the diagnostic process. Modern technology has added greatly to the diagnosis of retinal disease, and some of the new advances are described below:

B-scan Ultrasound

A painless procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to assess the eye for abnormalities. It is most helpful when the interior of the eye is obscured by blood.

Retinal Photography

Specialized cameras and lenses are used to photographically document retina disease. These photos can then be referred to later in the patient’s course to determine if the retina disease has progressed, remained stable, or improved.

Fluorescein angiography

This study requires that a special dye (sodium fluorescein) be injected into an arm vein. The dye then enters the patient’s bloodstream, allowing for study of the retinal blood vessels.

Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT)

This test is noninvasive. OCT uses light waves to image the retina, providing better image resolution than sound waves (B-scan). The picture produced is very similar to what it would be like to view the retina with a microscope, allowing for very accurate evaluation of retinal disease processes. It is among the newest retina imaging techniques, and has quickly become one of the most important tools in managing patients with retinal problems.

Spectralis

The UF Eye Institute has acquired the latest and most important retina imaging tool, the Spectralis. It is a new diagnostic technology that combines high-speed scanning laser angiography with high-resolution optical coherence tomography. It essentially allows UF Eye Institute physicians to take a picture of the surface of the retina, evaluate its blood flow, and at the same time look three dimensionally underneath the microscopic surface without ever entering the eye. This allows physicians to more accurately diagnosis retina pathology and create a more optimal treatment diagnosis for each patient. Fewer than five Spectralis machines exist in the United States, making the UF Eye Institute unique in its ability to offer this technology for patients with retinal disease.

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