Widefield Retinal Imaging At Cassidy Eyecare

One of the most important things an optometrist needs to do during an eye exam, is to have a good look inside your eyes.  At the back of your eye is the retina - a thin layer of light-sensitive cells that act like the "film" in the camera of your eye.

Your retina is the only place in the body where blood vessels can be seen directly, which makes it a powerful tool for detecting not only eye conditions but also signs of systemic health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and even stroke risk.  Retinal imaging is a big part of this assessment, and it's come a long way in the past few years.

We've used retinal cameras at Cassidy Eyecare since we started.  Originally these were standard Canon camera bodies, fitted to focusing systems that allowed photographs to be taken of the retina.  While these were really good at the time, retinal imaging has improved a lot recently.  

Modern "cameras" use improved technology to provide images of the retina that are sharper, capture a larger area of the retina, and work MUCH better through small pupils or cataracts.

We are using this new technology at Cassidy Eyecare, and have just upgraded to the Eidon Ultra-Wide camera in our New Lynn office.  

What are the Benefits?

We’ve chosen the Eidon Ultra-Widefield camera at Cassidy Eyecare because it offers some of the most advanced features available today:

• True-Colour Imaging: The Eidon captures high-resolution, true-to-life colour images—providing far more detail than older technology. This helps us spot subtle changes and gives you a clearer understanding of your eye health.

• Ultra-Widefield View: With a broader view of your retina, we’re able to detect signs of conditions like diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and retinal tears that might be missed with traditional cameras.  Standard retinal camera images capture a 45 degree view of the back of your eye, while the Eidon Ultra-Wide captures 160 degrees in a single image.

• Comfortable & Non-Invasive: The scan is quick and painless, and in most cases doesn’t require dilation drops—so you can return to your day without the hassle of blurry vision or light sensitivity.

• Better Monitoring Over Time: High-quality imaging allows us to track even the smallest changes from year to year, giving you confidence in your long-term care.

Check out the images below, comparing the same eye imaged with the Eidon, versus our previous retinal camera.