Usefulness of the Ultra-Widefield Retinal Imaging Device for Fundus Screening

Abstract

Purpose: : To study the usefulness of the ultra-widefield (200 degrees of the fundus) retinal imaging device (Optos 200Tx, Marlborough, MA, USA) for fundus screening.

Methods: : One hundred twenty-eight eyes of 64 medical students (39 men, 25 women; mean age, 26.2±5.2 years) who attended the clinical clerkship for ophthalmology at Asahikawa Medical University were included. Fundus imaging using the Optos device and conventional fundus examinations using a fundus scope and a slit-lamp with a 90-diopter non-contact lens were performed under mydriasis to facilitate fundus screening for retinal breaks and lattice degeneration.

Results: : Fifteen cases of lattice degenerations and seven cases of breaks were observed in 15 eyes (11.7%) during the fundus examination; seven cases of lattice degeneration and two cases of retinal breaks in seven eyes (5.5%) were identified using Optos. Around the equatorial zone, seven of eight pathological findings (87.5%) were observed using Optos; however, only one of 14 pathological findings (7.1%) was observed in the far periphery. In one patient with intense photophobia and the inability to move his eyes, lattice degeneration was detected using Optos, but it was difficult to detect during conventional fundus examination.

Conclusions: : The ultra-widefield retinal imaging device can be useful for fundus screening for diseases that develop mainly up to and around the equatorial zone. This device can enable fundus examinations when patient cannot move their eyes.

Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • imaging/image analysis: clinical • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence