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If you have been coming to Downtown Vision Care for eye exams, you know that we have taken a retinal photograph of the back of your eye for more than 25 years.

This retinal photograph is so important for monitoring changes in pigment spots/freckles/nevi, monitoring changes in the optic nerve (for glaucoma) or macula (for macular degeneration). These retinal photographs have captured an area about 40 degrees wide. This has been good because most of the worrisome changes in the back of our eye happen in this area.

However, new technology now allows us to capture a retinal photograph of 200 degrees. This is so amazing! This camera is able to capture this wide field of view without dilating a persons pupil which is also so amazing! The camera is made by Zeiss, the company that makes some of the best camera and astronomical and microscope lenses.

This allows us to detect and monitor more nevi, to catch earlier changes in diabetes and to detect retinal degenerations before they cause problems like retinal detachments. We are so thrilled with this advantage. There are also very good color filters in the camera that allow us to see changes in different layers of the retina. This is very good for detecting early changes in macular degeneration.

Because this camera is taking a picture with such a wide field of view, it must illuminate that much bigger area of the retina. This makes it seem that the flash is brighter. The flash is not brighter, and your eye recovers just as fast from the flash. Most people see a purple after image. One lady told me ‘it does seem brighter, but softer too, it wasn’t too bad at all’.

Written by Dr. Kim Crowe

More Articles By Dr. Kim Crowe

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  • #243, 414 3 St S.W.
  • Calgary, AB T2P 1R2

Contact Information

Hours Of Operation

  • Monday: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Thursday: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed

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Parking is available in the Calgary Place Parkade. Entrance is off 4th Ave. across from the Keg. Be sure to take a ticket when you enter and we’ll provide a voucher for the time of your visit.

Our Blog

Check out our Blog for news updates and eye care tips!

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Can Laser Eye Surgery Fix Cataracts?

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Cataracts occur when our lens in the middle of eye gets cloudy and opaque. They can be a frustrating thing to deal with in your everyday life, and while they are very common, many of our patients wonder about how they are treated. One common question we’re asked is whether or not you can use […]

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Drawing showing the difference between regular eye and presbyopic eye.

Have you found yourself squinting at fine print more as you get older or holding your book a little further away, or wanting more light to see fine print? You might be dealing with presbyopia—one of several common eye conditions that can sneak up on us as we age.  Presbyopia is like other refractive errors, […]

Read More…

Close-up of a senior woman undergoing a slit-lamp exam.

Glaucoma is a term that refers to a group of eye conditions often recognized by their connection to high pressure inside the eye. It can lead to damage to the optic nerve and cause permanent vision loss. In its earliest stages, this condition doesn’t have noticeable symptoms, leading many people to wonder how it’s diagnosed […]

Read More…

Graphical representation of a regular eye and the lens of an eye with a cataract.

Cataracts occur when our lens in the middle of eye gets cloudy and opaque. They can be a frustrating thing to deal with in your everyday life, and while they are very common, many of our patients wonder about how they are treated. One common question we’re asked is whether or not you can use […]

Read More…

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