#Tracey itrace used update

Besides measuring corneal curvature values, modern devices are multifunctional, providing numerous other information like refraction, pupil size, angle kappa, angle alpha, higher-order aberrations, corneal pachymetry, anterior chamber depth, lens density and thickness, external photography, and tear layer imaging. In addition to traditional Placido disc technology, there are now many more options such as Scheimpflug imaging, ray-tracing, and wavefront aberrometry devices.

#Tracey itrace used update

Here is a brief update on some of these products: Current trends include combination devices (various technologies in one device) with smaller footprints, improved user friendliness, and better connectivity. There have also been dramatic improvements in other anterior and posterior segment imaging instruments. Now it is a ubiquitous device in just about every ophthalmology office. Initially, OCT was a specialized test in academic centers to study macular and optic nerve structural changes.

The technology that truly revolutionized ophthalmic imaging was optical coherence tomography (OCT). Over the past two decades, we have witnessed an increase in the number and types of imaging technologies. We also used radiologic studies (x-ray, CT, and MRI) for trauma and neuro-ophthalmic indications.

These modalities were primarily utilized by retina specialists (fundus photos, fluorescein angiograms, and B-scan images), oculoplastic surgeons (pre-op and post-op eyelid/adnexae images), cataract surgeons (A-scan biometry), and cornea/refractive surgeons (corneal topography and specular microscopy). When I was in training, the imaging technology for ophthalmologists was essentially limited to basic photography, ultrasound, corneal topography, and specular microscopy. Chief among these are imaging technologies, which represent an integral part of our field. As ophthalmologists, we probably have more “gadgets” than any of our colleagues in other specialties.

We rely on wonderful diagnostic and therapeutic devices every day to help us treat our patients. Medical technology advances at an increasingly rapid pace, and ophthalmology has benefited greatly from this progress.