Christmas comes early at optometry clinic: New technology optimizes Tinker mission productivity after eye exams

Published Dec. 14, 2007
By Brandice J. Armstrong
72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Christmas arrived early at the 72nd Medical Group Optometry clinic. Two weeks ago (Nov. 30), the clinic received an Optos 2000, a low-powered scanning laser ophthalmoscope.
   Provided by Air Force Materiel Command, the new technology eliminates the need to dilate a patient's eyes for an exam, costs nearly $180,000 but will save the Tinker mission more than 72,000 hours each year in lost production and downtime.
   "This is so important for our flying population," said Dr. (Maj.) Judy Manno, Optometry Services Flight commander and practicing optometrist. "When we put in drops to dilate and check the retina, the duty is not to include flying for 24 hours and it's a lot of downtime when you add it all up."
   Capt. Jade Texcell, 72nd MDG optometrist, said in particular, about 3,000 Tinker flyers will benefit from this technological advancement.
   "The Optos digitally scans the retina, the interior lining of the eyeball, (and) creates an Optomap, a digitalized image of the retina," Captain Texcell said. "Since no dilating drops are required, the patient can drive home, return to work, and aircrew members are not DNIF'd, duty not to include flying."
   Once the digital image of the retina uploads, which takes mere minutes, doctors and technicians can determine retinal lesions and spot early signs of diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal tears.
   "If we didn't dilate the pupil or do a scan and you looked through an un-dilated pupil, that's all you would see, about 20 percent of the retina," Dr. Manno said. "With the scanner and without dilation, you can see the whole thing around, up to a 200-degree field."
   Optos will not entirely eliminate the need for dilations. Initial dilated eye exams are required, as well as updates every three to four years. But, the Optomap Retinal Exam can be used in the years in between.
   Captain Texcell said the Optomap Retinal Exam does not hurt and takes only seconds to do.
   "Nothing touches the eye," she said. "It is a safe procedure, which all patients including children, can have in order to ensure there are no unknown problems of the eye." Tinker optometry patients who want to take home a digital scan of their retina are encouraged to bring a CD-R disc to their appointment. Officials are not printing results because of the excessive amount of ink it would require.
   Optos 2000, was invented by Douglas Anderson when his son, Leif, lost his vision in one eye at 5 years old. Despite annual check-ups, the 1990 technology couldn't detect retinal detachment and the check-up process proved uncomfortable for a small child, making a thorough exam difficult.