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Retinal Clarity Reaches New Heights

Scanning ophthalmoscope’s white light provides true color imaging of the retina, enhancing diagnosis and treatment.

BY KAREN APPOLD, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Introduced in December 2014, CenterVue’s (Fremont, CA) EIDON is the first FDA-cleared fully automated retinal imaging system to combine the advantages of confocal scanning with true-color imaging capabilities. Crisp images capture a detailed picture of the patients’ eye, increasing the probability that disease will be diagnosed early.

“EIDON’s combination of white illumination with confocal imaging provides better image quality,” says Prof. Giovanni Staurenghi of the University of Milan. “The confocal aperture provides sharp visualization of detail. Confocal white light technology allows us to obtain real color images through a small pupil. The infrared light images detect what the human eye is not able to see. What once was a dream is now a reality.”

WHITE LIGHT DOESN’T LIE

The retinal appearance with EIDON’s white-light source mirrors that seen during white light, direct ophthalmoscope techniques. “The white light images are a true representation of the retina at the time of the scan, giving the most accurate anatomy and all of the detailed information needed for an accurate diagnosis,” says William Burnham, OD, CEO of CenterVue Inc. “The EIDON true color image enhances retinal assessment.”

EIDON’s optics allow imaging of the central retina and the periphery, over a viewing angle of up to 110º for more comprehensive retinal documentation. Its multiple imaging modalities — true-color, red-free, and infrared — provide information concerning different retinal layers. “True color enables retinal color fidelity as seen with other retinal observation techniques like ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp viewing,” explains Dr. Burnham. “There are no pseudocolor artifacts as seen with SLO technology.”

Also, there’s no need to worry about saturation of the red channel, a common problem using a traditional fundus camera. EIDON also features 15-µm resolution and nonmydiatric operation down to a 2.5-mm pupil.

VERSATILE CLINICAL UTILITY

The device and software interface are user friendly and quick to learn. EIDON streamlines image acquisition and ensures minimal operator involvement by automatically aligning the patient’s pupil, focusing on the retina, and capturing images using a soft light source. EIDON can be used automatically or manually, with or without pupil dilation. At any time, clinicians can stop the automatic alignment and switch to manual mode using the joystick, while autofocusing can be combined with manual adjustment. “This provides flexibility for the practice and operator, offering the ability to customize focusing and alignment to elicit specific pathologies better,” Dr. Burnham says.

EIDON is operated via dedicated software as a standalone unit, using a completely intuitive, high-resolution color display tablet. “This makes the transition from previous systems to EIDON painless,” Dr. Burnham says. No additional personal computer is required. EIDON also offers embedded capabilities for Internet and network connectivity for remote data viewing and secure data backup.

BENEFITS FOR PATIENTS, TOO

For patients, “true color, confocal retinal imaging with wide field viewing enhances early detection of retinal pathology to improve assessment and management,” Dr. Burnham says. Imaging is a quick process; high-resolution retinal images of both eyes can be acquired within 90 seconds. For patients with existing disease, EIDON can image through cataract and media opacities.

A soft light source guarantees maximum patient comfort. Patients also appreciate the ergonomic design and motorized chin rest. RP