Heine has updated its indirect ophthalmoscope, the Omega 600, with its Visionboost technology to increase illumination. This improves a clinician’s ability to examine patients with cataracts and other vitreous opacities. Additional modifications have also made the device the lightest high-end indirect on the market.

“When designing the Omega 600, we not only listened to customers’ feedback regarding comfort and ease of use, but also their desires for the product’s diagnostic capabilities,” says Christian Berling, vice president of sales and marketing at Heine USA.

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Visionboost is activated by adjusting the rheostat, which boosts illumination by up to 245%. “This increased illumination is useful when examining patients with dense media, such as cataracts or vitreous opacities,” says Timothy You, MD, a retina specialist at Orange County Retina Group in Laguna Hills, California. The Visionboost function has been proven to provide up to a 20% better view of the retina.

Maximilian Wintergerst, MD, an ophthalmic resident at University Hospital Bonn’s Department of Ophthalmology in Germany says when examining patients, Visionboost improved his view of mild and moderate cataracts for all subtypes — nuclear, cortical, and posterior.

For well-defined small opacities, Dr. Wintergerst says the view improved noticeably when examining the affected fundus area. “Very small opacities almost completely disappeared thanks to the brightness boost,” Dr. Wintergerst says. “In eyes with predominantly nuclear sclerosis, the boost function resulted in a generally sharper and higher contrast image.”

Visionboost combined with Heine’s LED HQ illumination, stereoscopic adjustment technology, and independent adjustment of the spot size allows for detailed 3D views regardless of a pupil’s size, dilation, or examining situation. “This ensures that no matter what type of cataract clinicians are presented with, the Omega 600 will always provide the best possible view of the entire retina,” Berling says. “The stereoscopic adjustment system is completely independent of the light spot size, allowing clinicians to maximize the field of view as well.” In addition to cataracts, the device helps physicians see retinal tears, holes, retinal detachments, and retinopathy of prematurity in pediatric patients.

LIGHTWEIGHT IS GREAT

Not only did Heine enhance diagnostic capabilities, but it also addressed another problem facing eye surgeons when designing the Omega 600 — musculoskeletal injuries from repetitive activities. A survey of American ophthalmologists in 2005 revealed that 52% of the 697 respondents reported neck, upper body, or lower back pain, with 15% having to curtail their work as a consequence.¹

By improving battery technology and instrument design, the Omega 600 is 28% lighter than its predecessor. It is also 20% lighter than other high-end indirect ophthalmoscopes. “This translates into less downward force on the user’s neck,” Berling says.

Dr. You says that wearing an unnatural 2-pound device on your head over many years creates undue stress on the spinal column. “The reduction of weight is a major improvement, which may translate to a longer clinical career for many doctors,” he says. “I was amazed by how light the scope was.”

In addition to having less weight, the lithium polymer battery has a use time of up to 8 hours. The built-in LED shows the level of battery charge. And with Heine’s LED HQ technology, there is no bulb to replace. The 3,600-Kelvin light looks like halogen illumination and has a color rending index greater than 90 for accurate color rendition, a problem which plagues many LED-based instruments.

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When designing the Omega 600, Heine also considered the placement of the instrument’s controls. For example, the rheostat was moved from the side of the unit up to the front with the other controls. Clinicians can mount the rheostat to either side of the headband. The rear section of the headband also articulates for a secure fit. “Indirects without this feature must be overtightened for a secure fit, which can cause discomfort,” Bering says.

Filter and aperture selectors were indexed for secure selection, so they’re conveniently located. “All of these elements may sound trivial, but we wanted to make sure that users were comfortable and able to easily access the device’s important features,” Berling says. “Our goal was to make sure every element of the indirect was thought out and designed around our customers and their patients.”

A wall charging system that secures the Omega 600 in position prevents it from being accidentally dislodged and damaged while charging. It also takes up to 25% less wall space than other wall-charging indirects. Unlike the Omega 500, there are no exposed connectors or wires, which contribute to the Omega 600’s clean, modern look, Dr. You says. Its exclusive smooth surface design is free of sharp edges, exposed cables, clips, holes, recesses, or gaps, which provides for simple operation and disinfection, Berling says.

“The new Omega 600 has the same quality as the previous generations of Heine indirects that I have come to depend on every day to take care of my patients, with additional capabilities and improved comfort,” Dr. You concludes. RP

REFERENCE

1. Dhimitri KC, McGwin G Jr, McNeal SF, et al. Symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders in ophthalmologists. Am J Ophthalmol. 2005;139(1):179-181. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2004.06.091