Optomap® vs. Dilation
Optomap® vs. Dilation: What’s the Difference?
At Wyomissing Optometric Center, we use advanced technology to provide the most thorough care for your eyes. One important part of a comprehensive eye exam is evaluating the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels inside your eye. This allows us to detect not only eye diseases, but also signs of systemic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disorders, stroke, and even certain cancers.
There are two primary ways we examine the inside of your eyes: dilated eye exams and Optomap® ultra-wide retinal imaging.
Dilated Eye Examination
A dilated eye exam is the gold standard for evaluating your retina. Special drops are used to enlarge (dilate) your pupils, giving your doctor a full view of the entire retina and optic nerve.
Benefits of dilation:
- Allows your doctor to examine
100% of the retina in detail
- Detects early signs of sight-threatening conditions such as:
- Glaucoma
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal tears or detachments
- Diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy
- Provides clues to overall systemic health through direct observation of blood vessels
- Essential for new patients and anyone with known or suspected eye disease
Considerations:
- Drops may cause
light sensitivity and mild blurred vision (especially up close) for a few hours
- Sunglasses are recommended after dilation
- Safe and highly effective
Optomap® Retinal Imaging
The Optos Optomap® is an advanced digital retinal scan that can capture up to 80% of the retina in one ultra-wide image—without the need for dilating drops.
Benefits of Optomap:
- Quick, painless, and non-invasive
- Provides high-resolution images for review and monitoring over time
- Can detect many eye diseases early
- Useful for photodocumenting retinal changes
- Helpful for patients who cannot be dilated frequently due to sensitivity or scheduling needs
Considerations:
- Does not replace dilation—about 20% of the retina cannot be imaged, and small but serious conditions could be missed
- If anything abnormal is seen on Optomap, a dilated exam is still required the same day for a complete evaluation
- Not every patient is a candidate—your doctor will determine eligibility based on your age, eye health, and risk factors
- Optomap is a screening tool, not covered by insurance, and requires an out-of-pocket fee
Our Priority: Your Eye Health
While we understand dilation can be temporarily inconvenient, the early detection of eye disease far outweighs the short-term side effects of dilating drops. Optomap is an excellent tool for many patients, but it does not replace the full view provided by dilation.
Ask your doctor at Wyomissing Optometric Center whether Optomap is an option for you this year.
