Retinal Diagnostics & Testing
The retina, macula, and vitreous are subject to a wide array of conditions, illnesses, and injuries. As they play such significant roles in your vision and health, it’s vital to identify specific disorders. Doing so enables ophthalmologists and retina specialists to initiate treatment at the earliest opportunity. At California Retina Consultants, each of our retina centers has a full suite of cutting-edge equipment and technologies, designed for retinal diagnostic testing and treatment.
Retinal Diagnostic Exams: A Crucial Diagnostic Tool
One of the most effective methods to detect any retinal concerns is a comprehensive dilated eye examination, particularly if you suspect or already live with one.
Your first retinal exam generally takes about 2 hours or more, depending on if extensive testing is required. As a referral-based practice, once your appointment ends, we’ll forward a report to both your referring doctor and primary care provider. You should note that emergencies may come up, and we ask for your patience and consideration.
During the exam, your retina specialist will perform thorough retinal testing, dilated eye exam, and retinal imaging as needed. After eye dilation, you’ll be very sensitive to bright light. It’s strongly recommended that you bring sunglasses and plan on having someone drive you home from the retina clinic after your exam.
Your exam may also include retinal imaging, including:
- Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green (ICG) angiography – With these procedures, a small amount of fluorescent, colored dye, is injected into an arm vein and travels to deep blood vessels in the eye. Special cameras capture images that reveal the presence of any retinal abnormalities. Unlike the Fluorescein test, ICG dye lights up when exposed to infrared light, which allows us to better view the retina’s blood vessels to evaluate macular problems and direct laser treatment.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) – A non-contact, non-invasive imaging technique, OCT is used to obtain high-resolution, cross-sectional retinal images. It’s used in the early detection and treatment of macular diseases, including macular holes, macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
For advanced retinal testing and diagnostic care in Central California, contact California Retina Consultants today.