Optomap Retinal Imaging
Elevating Your Eye Care to a New Standard
At Lifetime Eye Care, your long-term ocular health is our top priority. To ensure we provide as comprehensive an evaluation as possible, we include Optomap retinal imaging as a standard, required component of every annual vision exam.
Because this is an advanced screening, there is a $29 out-of-pocket fee per patient. We have intentionally kept this cost significantly lower than most other practices in the area because we strongly believe in the preventative value this technology provides.
Why is Optomap so important?
The retina is the delicate, light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye that allows you to see. It is also susceptible to conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachments, and melanoma.
Many of these serious issues can develop without any early warning signs or symptoms. Optomap provides us with an ultra-widefield view of your retina, allowing us to detect, monitor, and treat potential problems long before they cause permanent vision loss.
What to expect during the imaging
Taking an Optomap image is fast and requires no dilation drops. During your pretesting, you will simply look into the device, wait for a green light, and see a quick flash. In just a few seconds, a high-resolution image of your retina is generated using advanced, low-intensity lasers. Your doctor will then review the images directly with you in the exam room.
Optomap FAQ
Optomap is a state-of-the-art diagnostic tool. Currently, most standard vision insurance plans consider it an advanced screening and do not cover it under a basic routine exam.
Our commitment is to provide a thorough evaluation of your overall eye health, not just check your prescription. This equipment is a significant investment for our practice, but we require it because it establishes a baseline for your health and catches silent problems that a standard exam might miss.
In most routine cases, no. Optomap allows us to thoroughly examine your internal eye health without the inconvenience of dilation. However, if you are coming in for a specific, problem-focused medical eye exam (such as for diabetes, cataracts, or sudden vision changes), traditional dilation may still be necessary.
Yes, we strongly recommend it for our younger patients. We routinely and successfully capture images for kids as young as four years old. Finding serious, hidden issues early is just as crucial for children. If a child is physically unable to complete the imaging, the fee is naturally waived.
That is the exact outcome we hope for! A healthy Optomap image is still incredibly valuable because it provides a permanent baseline record. We keep these images on file to compare against future exams, allowing us to spot even the most microscopic changes over time.
We never want temporary financial hardship to prevent you from receiving exceptional care. If you have concerns about the cost, please speak privately with one of our staff members.