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EyeGenetix provides a targeted approach to Ophthalmic Care earlier by bridging the gap between Primary Care and Ophthalmic Intervention.
What We Do: Eye Diagnostics
In Simple Terms:
The EGX Vision Health system delivers:
Retina Imaging
In general, fundus photography may be considered medically necessary if performed to:
Fundus photography is not medically necessary simply to document the existence of a condition.
Photographs are medically necessary to establish a baseline to judge later if a disease is progressive. Examples are as follows: It does not add to the patient’s care to photograph dry age related maculopathy to document its existence. However, fundus photography may be necessary to establish the extent of retinal edema in moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In four to six months, the baseline photograph can be compared to the clinical appearance of the current diabetic retinal edema to see if it is progressing to clinically significant diabetic macular edema. This information can be used to decide clinical management by the eye care doctor.
The intent of this scenario is to point out how in the former example there is not a therapeutic decision being made; in the latter there is. Fundus photography should aid in making a clinical decision upon referral.
Visual Field Perimeter & Tonometry
Visual field testing is most frequently used to detect any signs of glaucoma damage to the optic nerve along with Tonometry which measures the pressure inside your eye, which is called intraocular pressure (IOP). This test is used to check for glaucoma, an eye disease that can cause blindness by damaging the nerve in the back of the eye (optic nerve ). In addition, visual field tests are useful for detection of central or peripheral retinal disease, eyelid conditions such as ptosis or drooping, optic nerve disease, and diseases affecting the visual pathways within the brain. The visual pathways carry information from the eye to the visual or occipital cortex in the brain, where this information is processed into vision.
Why use a Visual Field outside of Ophthalmic Care facilities?
A visual field test is performed at the initial visit or as soon as glaucoma is suspected. It evaluates vision loss due to glaucoma, damage to the visual pathways of the brain, and other optic nerve diseases. When glaucoma is diagnosed the visual field data is used to determine the severity of disease. This staging information is useful in choosing a target intraocular pressure and determining follow-up.
After the initial diagnosis the doctor will repeat the visual field test to check for worsening disease. This may be done in three to twelve months depending on the severity. If there are worsening defects or new areas of damage, a lower intraocular pressure and change in therapy may be needed. Many studies have shown that visual fields are variable over time and there is a learning curve when taking the test, so your doctor may ask you to repeat the test to confirm your results.
Why this new approach to shared care?