Same Day Glasses at Competitive Prices
Protect Your Vision with OCT Screening at Newfoundland’s Howlett Optical Locations
Your vision health is our first priority at Howlett Optical. Our optometrists use advanced technology in eye exams to help us diagnose eye problems early and to monitor ongoing conditions with confidence. We use visual fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) screening at our Newfoundland offices to help patients preserve their vision.
OCT allows optometrists to see, map and measure the thickness of the retina’s many layers. OCT is a non-invasive method of imaging that measures how the light-sensitive tissue within the eye scatters light waves. This form of imaging does not expose you to any radiation and it results in very detailed and accurate cross-sectional images of the retina. Introduced more than 15 years ago, OCT is now used to monitor the effects of eye conditions such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetes-related changes to the eye. With this information, your optometrist and ophthalmologist can treat your eyes more accurately and help you preserve your vision.
Ocular fundus photography is another tool optometrists can use to get detailed images of the interior surface of the eye, including structures such as the retina, the optic disc and the macula. To widen the area imaged by the fundus camera, we will dilate the eye with eye drops before taking photographs. The photographs can help us see and document conditions such as:
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular edema
- Retinal detachment
Early diagnosis can help protect your vision and your overall health. For example, early diagnosis of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy means that we can protect you from further vision loss with retinal laser treatment. If your optometrist sees changes in your retina associated with stroke risk, you (and your primary care physician) can take proactive steps to lower blood pressure. The fundus camera is also useful when we are dealing with eye emergencies.
If you have concerns about your vision health or if you have experienced changes in your overall health and wellness, visit Howlett Optical for state-of-the-art eye exams that can help you protect your vision. Schedule regular eye exams for every member of your family at either of our two convenient locations.
