“We’re documenting the exact point in time that you have seen that patient”

At 100% Optical this March, equipment companies showcased advances in imaging technology, designed to support the practitioner through enhanced quality scans, smooth workflows, and a potential early insight into issues.

OT heard from equipment manufacturers and suppliers at 100% Optical about communicating the value of imaging to patients.

1 A snapshot in time

Sharon Ormonde, Optos sales director northern Europe, told OT: “We’re documenting the exact point in time that you have seen that patient, and exactly what their retina looked like.”

This can be helpful for the future care of a patient, with Ormonde adding: "With the best will in the world, the best notes aren’t going to give the clinician that sees that patient the next time that amount of information."

It is important to show patients their images, Ormonde advised, sharing: “We know that educated patients make better choices about their eye care, the frequency of visits, their lenses, and the spectacles they choose.”

“Talk them through the reasons why you wanted to take this image today, then the patient can understand and see the value of having their images taken,” she continued.

At future visits the scans should be repeated to check for any subtle changes “that might not be seen any other way,” Ormonde said.

Optos presented its MonacoPro optomap retinal imaging device at 100% Optical. To find out more, watch OT’s interview with Ormonde.

2 Patient education

Darren Taylor, optometry sales and product training manager for Essilor Instruments UK, highlighted: “Imaging of any kind is very important.”

Suggesting that “seeing is believing,” Taylor shared that educating the patient is easier when practitioners can “show them exactly what is going on in their eyes.”

During the show, OT was provided an insight into a new product in EssilorLuxottica’s portfolio: the Cellview WRI-1 ultra widefield imaging system. Find out more here.

David Thickens, chief executive officer at Grafton Optical, also noted the benefits of imaging for communicating with patients.

“You can talk the patient through any pathologies that have been detected. You can show the patient exactly what you mean rather than not having a picture at all,” he said.

Thickens provided a demonstration of Grafton Optical’s latest diagnostic optical equipment. Watch the interview here.

3 Go beneath the layers

Claire Martin, head of strategy and marketing for ophthalmic diagnostics at Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, emphasised the importance of imaging when a patient doesn’t believe they have any issues.

Using an example of scanning a patient before a cataract operation, Martin said: “If you don’t scan before they go for their cataract, you can have a cataract operation and then a visual surprise because they weren’t screened before, and they might not have had that cataract operation or they might have chosen something different.”

She added: “It's really important, even if the patients think there is nothing wrong with them whatsoever, that you do this imaging just to make sure.”

“You need to go beneath the layers to see what is happening,” she concluded.

Hear more from Martin about the new Zeiss Ciruss Pathfinder decision support tool, showcased at 100% Optical 2025.