The procedure

Your Optometrist has a device called a fundus camera. This is a specialised camera designed to take very high resolution pictures of your retina. We normally recommend that one picture of each eye is taken but sometimes two are taken. These images are examined in the Optometrists office and you may receive a verbal “all clear”. The images are then encoded using a digital encryption technology similar to that used by banks to protect your personal information. Your personal details are NOT sent to the clinical referral centre. They do not need this information to help with any diagnosis.

The photography is quick and painless and you will get to see a picture of your retina immediately on the computer screen.

Your Optometrist may suggest that your eyes should be dilated. This just helps get a clearer picture and your Optometrist will explain how this procedure works.

The images are sent securely to a Clinical Assessment Centre which is located at one of the major teaching hospitals in the UK. These assessment centres are regulated by the UK Department of Health and are staffed and supervised by very senior clinical Ophthalmologists. The images are all reviewed at least twice and a separate report is generated each time. This helps us ensure that quality of interpretation is maintained according to the highest clinical standards. The reviewing specialists have a special software programme that helps them identify any very small or background changes in the retina, and then collect this information in a systematic way.

Read more about the clinical assessment