The Importance of Retinal Imaging During Your Yearly Eye Exam

Has your optometrist suggested a retinal exam during your comprehensive checkup? Here’s everything you need to know about this eye test and why it’s so important for your vision.


Just because you have clear vision, doesn’t necessarily mean that your eyes are healthy! This is because many serious eye diseases, such as glaucoma, don’t present any symptoms in their early stages. That’s why it’s recommended that you schedule a yearly eye exam with your local Calgary optometrist.

These eye exams will allow for:

  • Early identification of visual or general health conditions
  • Improved quality of life
  • Clearer vision
  • Lower healthcare costs
  • Immediate management and treatment of any conditions


Comprehensive Eye Exams and Retinal Testing to Protect Your Vision

At our Calgary eye clinic, our highly trained optometrists offer eye exams to patients of all ages, including children and seniors. Our comprehensive checkups include retinal exams and contact lens fittings so we can address all your specific needs and ensure your vision is always clear and your eyes are always healthy.

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What is a Retinal Exam?

Digital retinal imaging uses high resolution imaging systems to take pictures of the inside of your eye. This helps your Calgary optometrist assess the health of your retina, and allows them to detect and manage a range of health conditions, including:

  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration: This is usually signified by a leaking of fluid or bleeding at the back of the eye.
  • Cancer: A dark spot at the back of the eye may be a sign of melanoma. If caught early, it can be treated before causing serious damage and spreading to the rest of your body.
  • Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetes can cause changes in the blood vessels of the retina, such as swelling, leaking, or the creation of new blood vessels. Without early detection, blindness can occur.
  • Glaucoma: Pressure against the optic nerve and compression of the blood’s eye vessels could be an indication of glaucoma.
  • High Blood Pressure: Signs of high blood pressure often first appear in the eye. Indicators could be narrowing of the blood vessels, spots on the retina, or bleeding at the back of the eye.
  • Retinal Detachment: Retinas can lift or pull away from the wall of the eye. A retinal exam will identify this early on before it causes significant damage to your eye health and vision.


Importance of Retinal Exams During Your Yearly Eye Checkup

Retinal imaging is a very important part of your yearly eye exam. Here are 3 reasons why your local optometrist may suggest you have this checkup:

1. The First Signs of Ocular Conditions Are Seen in the Retina

This means that with retinal imaging, possible eye diseases can be quickly and easily detected and treated. A small deficiency is always easier to correct and all potential treatments are more comfortable for the patient.

Retinal imaging is also a very automated process. This means that all retina-related conditions are automatically analyzed, diagnosed, and stored by a computer, which leaves little room for human error.

2. Retinal Exam Results Are Easily Stored

This allows your optometrist to compare year-over-year results (as long as you have eye exams every year) very quickly. This feature is key in tracking treatment and disease progression, as well as rapidly noticing any anomalies.

3. Many Non-Ocular Conditions Can Be Detected in The Retina

Some health conditions, such as types of cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure, first leave signs in the retina before any other symptoms are visible throughout the body. Catching such serious diseases early on is key in their treatment and a retinal imaging exam may make all the difference between a quick and easy fix and more extensive, difficult treatment.


Our Calgary Optometrists Help Protect Your Ocular and Overall Health

To find out more about our comprehensive eye exams, and how our Calgary optometrists can help protect your vision, ocular health, and general well-being, visit one of our three branches, Crowfoot (67 Crowfoot Terrace NW, T3G 4J8), West Springs (1009 873 85 St SW, T3H 0J5) or Creekside (12192 Symons Valley Rd NW, T3P 0A3).

Alternatively, you can contact our team at our Crowfoot Branch (403-547-5417), West Springs (403-242-0999) or Creekside (403-516-2292).

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Blink Eyewear boasts the largest collection of eyewear in Calgary, but our 3 locations are also home to the region’s finest optometrists. Just as you will not find a better store to shop for your eyewear, you will not find a better vision clinic to do your eye exam or treat your eye condition. 

Go ahead and Blink; what you see is really what you get. Call one of our store numbers or fill out the form below to book an appointment.

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