Vision is one of the five primary senses many people take for granted. Sometimes, health issues can affect clear vision, and patients need accurate tests from eye doctors.
With a correct diagnosis, patients can better understand their medical condition. This can help them get the right treatment to improve their vision.
A good ophthalmology practice can provide accurate diagnoses by using the right equipment. This includes visual testing tools that quickly find vision problems. Finding the right perimeter is crucial.
Do you run an eye care practice? Do you want to improve your patients’ experience? Would you like to make vision field tests more efficient? If so, use this comprehensive guide to choose the best perimeter for your practice.
Understanding Visual Field Testing
Visual field testing measures a patient’s peripheral vision and looks for areas where vision might be lost.
Many visual field tests include kinetic, confrontation, and automated static perimetry tests. Each type has its purpose.
For example, the confrontation visual field test is a complete exam requiring no special equipment. The doctor asks the patient to look at one object. Then, the doctor checks the patient’s field of vision by holding up objects or a certain number of fingers.
Visual field testing is common. Many people have had this test at least once in their lives. It may happen during a general cranial nerve exam or at an eye doctor’s appointment.
It is important to find vision problems early. This can lead to an accurate diagnosis, such as glaucoma or a neurological disorder.
The good news is that visual field testing equipment improves over time. Newer devices provide faster and more accurate results and have easier-to-use interfaces, leading to better patient outcomes.
One ophthalmic instrument used for vision field testing is a perimeter. This special equipment tests and records a patient’s peripheral vision. Every ophthalmology practice should have at least one good perimeter. This is important for both the staff and the patients.
What Is a Perimeter?
In ophthalmology, a perimeter is a tool for testing a patient’s field of vision and checking for any problems, significant or minor.
Its function is to find any blind spots. This can help with diagnosis or track a patient’s progress or decline. It works by getting a patient to record when they see lights within the machine, which creates a final map of their vision.
A perimeter is an important tool for checking eye health. Optometrists and GP practices use it. Here are some of the conditions it can diagnose:
- Glaucoma is a common eye condition caused by too much fluid building up in the eye. This causes increased pressure and can damage the optic nerve.
Glaucoma often starts slowly, with a gradual loss of vision. However, it can eventually cause total blindness in patients. Although it is more common in the elderly, the condition can affect people of all ages. A perimeter test can detect glaucoma exceptionally early, improving outcomes.
- Macular Degeneration: Macular degeneration is a common type of vision loss that predominantly affects people over 50. Damage to the macula causes blurred central vision. Patients might notice a dark spot in their vision. This can make everyday tasks, like driving or reading, harder.
- Retinal Detachment: Retinal detachment is a rare but serious eye problem. It can cause dark shadows, blurred vision, and many floaters. It happens when the retina pulls too far back into the eye and requires surgery. Perimeter instruments can help diagnose this condition.
- Neurological Disorders: Perimeters can even help diagnose neurological conditions. Some neurological conditions can affect vision and damage the optic nerve. A visual field test reveals this damage.
- Optic Nerve Atrophy: Optic nerve atrophy is damage to the optic nerve. Depending on the cause, it can lead to permanent loss of vision. It’s very serious, so diagnosing it early with good field vision equipment, like perimeters, is important.
The Patient’s Experience
Luckily, vision field testing with perimeters is quick and painless for patients. It usually involves placing an eye patch on one eye and then resting the chin on a resting point. The patient then looks forward into the machine, pressing a button each time they see a flash of light. You only need five to ten minutes per eye, so you should complete it within twenty minutes.
Results will be exceptionally accurate if the patient stays focused during the process. They should also record the flashing lights using the button correctly. Many perimeters can change pacing to fit the patient. This way, patients who struggle can have a slower experience.
Key Features to Consider When Choosing a Perimeter
The perimeter is crucial for diagnosing many conditions. Therefore, it is essential to choose the right one for your practice. Many factors to consider, including the following key features, should be kept in mind when browsing for a perimeter for your practice.
- Accuracy will naturally be at the top of your list of features. How accurate do you need the testing to be? You will have to consider it against how wide the test is – the wider the perimeter test, the less accurate the results are.
- Speed: Are you all about boosting efficiency in your clinic? When you look for perimeters, consider how fast the results come in and how quickly the test takes overall. If your main goal is to streamline the process, a perimeter machine that boasts speed would be right for you.
- Testing Capabilities: What type of capabilities does the test offer? Are you looking for general vision testing? Or do you need detailed tests to track neurological diseases? Knowing what you need to test is essential as it will dictate which capabilities you require from your perimeter.
- Cost: Naturally, you will need to factor cost into your perimeter purchase. Look at your budget and see how much you can use for the instrument. Remember to consider maintenance costs, too, such as calibration, repairs, and part replacements. Budget for these going forward.
- Brand: In the world of medical equipment, the right brand matters. You want your equipment to be completely safe and accurate. This means you might pay a bit more for a brand you truly trust. If you have used a brand and liked its products before, you might want to find a perimeter from that same company.
- Patient Comfort: Always consider patient comfort when purchasing a perimeter. While the test is relatively fast and painless, you want your patient to feel at ease.
This helps them have a better experience, relax, and follow instructions correctly, allowing them to provide accurate results.
- Size of Database: You need your perimeter to record patient data, but how much do you need? The size of the database is important here. If you run a large clinic, you will need equipment that can store a large amount of data within the machine at one time.
- Longevity: Naturally, you want your fence to last a long time. Replacing it can be costly and take a lot of time.
Spending a bit more on a stronger perimeter can be beneficial. This choice is often more cost-effective over time. You can also look into warranties.
- Size: Another important consideration is the perimeter’s size. How much space does your practice have? If you are a small practice, you won’t want to invest in a huge perimeter that occupies more space than necessary. Think about portability, too; some perimeters are easily portable, which is a bonus for some practices.
- Learning Curve: Are you ready to add a new area to your practice, even though learning will take time? Or would you rather get a perimeter that melds seamlessly into your practice’s already-established routine? A crucial consideration exists, as some perimeters are more challenging to get to grips with.
- User Interface: Each perimeter will have a different user interface. Choosing one that works well for you and your staff members is best – prioritizing ease of use is important here.
- Types of Perimeter: It’s worth noting that there are different types of perimeters, all with different functions. For example, there are both static and dynamic perimeters that provide different types of vision testing. We will explore the different types of perimeters in more detail below. This will help you make the best choice for your practice.
- Integration Capabilities: What type of equipment does your practice already use? When buying new medical equipment, avoid changing your whole system. Instead, find a visual field perimeter that works well with your current equipment.
All these factors are important when buying your Ophthalmic Perimeter. Considering them will help you choose the best perimeter for your practice.
Types of Perimeters and Their Applications
As mentioned above, you need to think about the different types of perimeters for your practice. Not every perimeter will help you reach your goals.
Manual Perimeters
As the name suggests, manual perimeters require manual intervention to work. They may not work as well as automated systems, but they can help patients who struggle with automated ones.
Automated Perimeters
Unlike manual perimeters, automated perimeters largely work on their own, requiring minimal interaction from the practitioner. Many people often view automated perimeters as better than the other option.
They deliver more sensitive results and can complete the process faster. Plus, they require less highly trained staff. Overall, automated perimeters offer more efficient vision field testing.
Static Perimeters
Static perimeters involve the stimulus – often flashing lights – appearing stationary. This means that when the lights appear in front of the patient, they will not move. Instead, they will flash in one spot and often stay longer.
Dynamic Perimeters
Dynamic perimeters involve moving a stimulus from one area to another. The doctor asks the patient to respond when they first see it. So, the light will appear just outside typical peripheral vision and move inwards. This can provide a more accurate look at the patient’s field of vision.
Each of these perimeters has its advantages – the one that’s best for you depends on your clinic and its goals.
Top-Rated Ophthalmic Perimeter on the Market
You now understand more about what to look out for when shopping for perimeters for your clinic. So, what types of Ophthalmic Perimeter are out there, and which are the best? These top-rated perimeters offer distinct advantages and could work well for your practice.
1. iCare Centervue Compass Fundus Automated Perimeter ($7,999.00)
iCare Compass is advanced perimeter uses the latest technology. A compact machine scans with LED lights in a 30-degree radius. Thanks to this, the tests are highly reliable, providing much better patient outcomes.
An automated perimeter runs efficiently, allowing clinics to streamline their testing. This product is easy to use, comfortable for the patient, and reliable.
2. TOPCON TEMPO Perimeter Visual Field Screening
The TOPCON TEMPO perimeter is great for practices that need speed. This machine works accurately and effectively at a much faster pace than many other perimeters. A compact, affordable model exists, making it great for small clinics that need portable equipment.
3. Kowa AP-7000 Automated Perimeter ($2,222.00)
The Kowa AP-7000 Automated Perimeter offers extremely accurate measurements and customizable features to diagnose various conditions. It is a complex tool that takes time to learn. It works best in practices that provide specialized care services.
4. Haag-Streit Octopus 600 Pro Computer Perimeter ($7,888.00)
For an easy-to-use perimeter that can detect early glaucoma, try the Octopus 600 Pro perimeter. This perimeter runs efficiently using EyeSuite software, providing plenty of informative data and insights after testing. Despite its advanced analyzing technologies, it’s refreshingly simple to understand and provides fast screenings. Remember that the price reflects the quality—you will be paying a steeper amount for this than others.
5. Zeiss Humphrey Field Analyzer 3
To stay up-to-date with advanced vision testing technologies, you cannot go wrong with the Zeiss Humphrey Field Analyzer 3. This high-quality perimeter provides accurate testing for glaucoma. It uses guided progression to help practitioners make better decisions for patients. The machine can consider the patient’s medical visual history, which gives more in-depth projections.
It’s a great piece of equipment for any ophthalmologist’s clinic. However, the price shows its high quality.
Tips for Implementing a New Perimeter in Your Practice
Have you found the perfect perimeter for your practice? This crucial first step is essential, but you still have more to do. Purchasing a high-quality perimeter is one thing, but using it to benefit your practice best is another. Here are some tips for implementing your brand-new perimeter into the practice.
Integrate with Your Current Equipment
Your current equipment is anything but obsolete now that you have your new piece of equipment. One of your first steps is to integrate your new perimeter with the systems you already have in place. For example, ensure the perimeter testing data works well with your other records.
Train All Staff
Whether the learning curve is small or large, you need to train all staff to use the new perimeter correctly. Spending more time training staff is better.
This way, you can be sure everyone understands how it works. Revisiting the system later is more difficult. Remember that some perimeters will have more advanced features, and you may wish for at least one staff member to understand these.
Find its Most Appropriate Placement
Where is the best place to keep your perimeter? Where will patients take the test?
Scope out the most appropriate placement within your practice. Even if you plan to use the perimeter portably, it should still have a main home. This way, all staff will know where to find it.
Get to Grips with the Maintenance Required
What kind of maintenance is necessary to keep the perimeter up and running? Your purchase will include all the information you need. Take time to understand it and create a schedule. This way, you won’t miss any maintenance.
Test it Out
Naturally, you will want to test the perimeter before using it on patients. You aim to ensure that all the features work effectively and you know how to use them properly. If there are any defects, contact the supplier.
Know What You Need from the Patient
It is important to remember that perimeters are only accurate when used correctly. Even the most sophisticated vision testing machines will only produce successful results if the patient follows the instructions. When you install a new perimeter in your practice, know what each patient needs and have clear instructions ready.
It helps to have a visual infographic for patients to see what they need to do. With perimeters, looking at a single location during the testing is essential.
Allow More Time in the Beginning
Your new perimeter will soon fit well with the practice, and the staff members will understand the machine completely.
However, that won’t be the case in the early days. Allow a little more time when using it with patients in the beginning. More efficient equipment will emerge once you fully understand how it works and its features.
Finding Ophthalmic Perimeter for Your Practice: Summary and Key Takeaways
Investing in the right equipment is key to running a successful clinic. This helps ensure efficiency and puts patients first.
The right perimeter is especially important as there are so many variations. You need to consider your clinic’s goals while also factoring in budget, purpose, size, and much more.
Here are the key takeaways to consider when finding the best perimeter:
- The type of perimeter (e.g. manual vs. automated)
- How big of a learning curve it comes with
- The price – including maintenance costs
- The testing capabilities it offers (such as glaucoma or neurological conditions)
- The size and whether (or not) it is portable
- How much data it can store within the machine at any one time
- How comfortable the device is for the patient
Considering the abovementioned points, you are more likely to invest in a good perimeter. This will help your practice run more smoothly and improve patient outcomes.
Are you still unsure which Ophthalmic Perimeter is right for you? At Ophthalmetry Optical, we sell exceptional medical equipment to suit your practice’s needs. We are the sources of the greatest ophthalmic instruments, so we will surely help you with your search.
For a perimeter with the latest vision testing features, consider the Centervue Compass Fundus Automated Perimeter. It is also budget-friendly.
You can buy an Ophthalmic Perimeter on our website. You will also find all the extra details you need. This will help you ensure it’s the right Ophthalmic Perimeter for your practice.
