Topcon corporation announced that its high resolution fundus camera, has been approved by the ENSPDR (English National Screening Program for Diabetic Retinopathy) and will join a selective list of national screening devices for diabetic retinopathy. The 3D OCT-2000 is the latest fundus camera from Topcon to be combined with a Spectral Domain OCT, enabling the physician instantaneous confirmation of pathological structure.

The OCT function that comes with the fundus camera provides an extremely advanced health check for people of all ages. Very similar to Ultrasound, but using light rather than sound waves to illustrate the different layers that make up the back of the eye, it also captures a digital photograph of the surface of the eye to cross reference areas of concern.

Adam Gregory, IT Development Management at the ENSPDR, sees Topcon’s camera as an extremely important addition to the ENSPDR approved list of devices for diabetic screening.

“Topcon’s fundus camera is the first approved device to benefit from OCT functionality, allowing the ophthalmologist or optometrist to effectively hold a patient’s eye in their hand. Topcon’s camera is an extremely comprehensive screening tool that is able to dissect any abnormalities digitally and reach an accurate diagnosis.”

The English National Screening Programme for Diabetic Retinopathy (ENSPDR) is a national programme based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The ENSPDR’s team, headed by Dr Peter Scanlon, implements the aims and objectives of the ENSPDR. The National Screening Programme was set up to provide advice, support and facilitation to SHAs, PCTs and local programmes implementing systematic diabetic retinopathy screening programmes. The aim of the programme is to reduce the risk of sight loss among people with diabetes, by the prompt identification and effective treatment of sight threatening retinopathy, at the appropriate stage during the disease process.

The Topcon 3D OCT-2000 camera can detect a whole range of eye conditions in addition to diabetes, including glaucoma, vitreous detachments, macular holes and age related macular degeneration, taking fundus photography to a whole new level.

Richard Morrice, 43, experienced the benefits of the camera during a routine eye check in May 2009. He explains “I have regular eye tests because I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) as a child. RP is a genetic condition and it can lead to complete blindness. Although it cannot be stopped, the condition can be managed.

“My optometrist, Stephen McPherson, noticed that my right eye had lost two rows on the reading chart, which is quite a significant amount. I thought it would be down to the fact I had entered my 40s, but Mr. McPherson used the OCT to check. He discovered symptoms of sub clinical cystoid macular oedema and I was referred to the local eye hospital for treatment.

“The treatment not only stopped the deterioration of the macula, but it also reversed the damage that had already been caused. I am extremely grateful for the machine picking this up, otherwise I would have faced significant deterioration in both eyes. Macular oedema is likely to reoccur and for this reason, I now have quarterly readings using the machine which are essential for me to keep my vision.”

Stephen McPherson, Optometrist at McPherson Opticians in Aberdeen, says: “We can only assess things as well as our technology allows us to. The OCT is a fantastic piece of equipment which permits us to measure accurately and monitor conditions over a period of time. Very small changes are picked up and allow for earlier diagnosis, which in turn enables us to decide if treatment is necessary at an earlier stage than the normal Fundus camera. In the case of Richard Morrice, his diagnosis and recommendation for treatment would have certainly been delayed without access to the OCT.”