As we head into 2021, Coronavirus is a factor in almost every decision we make. The pandemic has affected our way of life in so many ways, but thanks to modern technology your eye examination with us is still possible – but most of all, safe.
And it’s not just about face masks and hand-gel. Here are three ways that our technology helps to make sure your eyes are healthy and you get the best vision possible, despite Covid-19:
#1 – Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
Believe it or not, this is what the inside of your eye looks like. The circular image in the image above is what an optometrist sees when they are examining your eye. Having a photographic record is useful as it allows us to know exactly how much your eyes have changed between appointments.
More importantly, the image allows your optometrist to assess the health of your eyes without having the get up close to you, keeping you both at a safe distance.
But it gets better. OCT is like an ultrasound in that it allows us to view deeper into the back of the eye than ever before, so we can detect potential health issues before they become problematic.
Just today a patient had a small retinal tear which would have been undetectable without OCT. Thanks to this advanced scan, we could give a confident diagnosis but also reassurance that this was not serious and simply required monitoring closely. We were also able to issue a quick referral to a hospital should the patient require further treatment which in the Covid world of delayed appointments was very important.
#2 Objective Refraction using the Zeiss i.Profiler
The fundamental way an optometrist checks your vision has been the same for decades. During an eye test, you will be asked to give your opinion on which prescription gives you the best vision – “one or two?”. This is also knows as a subjective refraction.
But what if someone could take out all the guess-work? Your Covid-safe eye examination with us involves assessment using the i.Profiler, which allows you to get a prescription 25x more accurate than with a subjective refraction. The benefits to you are improved night vision, greater contrast and more vivid colour perception.
This method also reduces the amount of time an optometrist needs to spend close to you, which allows for a more socially distanced experience.
#3 Contactless Consultations using the Visufit 1000 and AR Technology
Even without Covid, choosing new glasses can be a pretty painful experience. How do you know what will actually suit you? And do you really have to try on dozens of frames?
We have the answer. The Visufit 1000 is a breakthrough piece of tech which allows you to objectively compare exactly how you look in different frame styles. You can see how you look from any perspective, and it even uses artificial intelligence to suggest the right glasses for your shape of face. It can really help to get out of your comfort zone and explore new possibilities.
You can even see what difference your new glasses will make to your vision using augmented reality on our in-store ipads (which of course are disinfected between each use). Watch the video above to experience how AR works.
