The eye scanner that saw too much: How a 'problem' spotted by a supermaket tester caused unnecessary panic

Angela Epstein was eventually told there is no problem

Like a health author, I’m frequently asked to test new-fangled tests. It’s large business, with 100s of companies in great britan alone declaring to have the ability to flag up early-symptoms of from cardiovascular disease to cancer. The United kingdom marketplace is worth ?65?million.

They are able to cost everything from ?20 for any home cholesterol-testing package to 100s of pounds for any full MOT. Experts claim many of these tests aren’t necessary and victimize the ‘worried well’, frequently giving false-positive and, worse, false-negative results. However, the companies, it’s better safe than sorry. It’s a persuasive argument on sides, and that i will always be ambivalent.

However, the controversy grew to become very highly relevant to me this season after i agreed to possess a cutting-edge eye-checking test referred to as Optomap. My experience leaves me believing that just a little understanding really could be a bad factor – and that i now believe these tests might do more damage than good.

The Optomap machine has the capacity to create a scan from the retina – the sunshine-sensitive layer of tissue at the rear of the attention – in unequalled detail. It’s a lot more detailed than the usual routine eye test, that provides the optician a look at about 30 percent from the retina. The specialist will request the individual to maneuver their eyes to see the peripheral retina, but nevertheless will have the ability to see only a bit more.

‘The Optomap Retinal Examination allows a professional to see between 80 and 85 percent from the retina,’ describes Professor Paulo Stanga, ophthalmologist in the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. He makes use of the device for patients who've been known to his take care of ocular issues.

Producers state that by supplying a far more thorough screening from the retina, the scan can result in early recognition of common illnesses, for example glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cancer.

Prof Stanga was silenced momentarily as pictures of my right-hands retina made an appearance

There's no doubt that in great britan we have to take better proper care of our vision. Based on new information by Boots and also the RNIB, 50 percent of sight loss is avoidable, with four in ten people not getting their eyes checked regularly. The Optomap test has become on offer at private treatment centers and traditional opticians to anybody worried about eye health. And also at between ?10 and ?60 an evaluation, why wouldn’t you would like this innovative type of examination?

To accept test, I peered right into a hole within the side from the Optomap machine. A laser scans your eyes from behind a wall of glass which produces digital pictures of the retina. It’s fast and painless.

After showing me photos of my left eye and guaranteeing me of their a healthy body, Prof Stanga was silenced momentarily as pictures of my right-hands retina made an appearance. ‘I don’t understand what that's,’ he remarked evenly following a couple of seconds because he magnified what appeared as if a couple of black pin pricks. ‘I’ll need to take particular notice.’

It had been a stomach-lurching moment – even much more when i would be a healthy, symptom-free patient who'd chosen to possess a scan the way it was available.

This scan shows the retina with the front of Angela's eye - and, circled, the pigmented area that triggered concern

Within my situation, the device recognized what Prof Stanga referred to as hyper-skin tones within my right eye. On hearing this, I transformed from inquisitive health journalist to patient, and start spinning right into a paroxysm of stress.

Ideas of cancer exhibited through my thoughts – though Prof Stanga immediately assured me the black dots didn’t seem like that. I had been known as back the following day to possess a comprehensive eye examination.

First there have been eye drops to dilate my pupils, then more to anaesthetise them. Prof Stanga then completed what is known indirect ophthalmoscopy with 360 levels indentation: while looking into vibrant lights, your eyes are pressed having a probe, which seems like a clear, crisp fishing rod.

I had been quaking throughout the examination. The vibrant light felt as though it had been blinding me. I understood Prof Stanga was towards the top of his area, but it's totally abnormal to possess someone pressing your vision – and that i hated it. Laying back, I felt paralysed.

‘I need to do this to eliminate any retinal tears within the peripheral retina as they possibly can result in retinal detachment, which can lead to lack of vision,’ he described.

Right now I had been in a condition of hyper-anxiety. Therefore the outcome was the very best I possibly could expect. I'd a pigmented vitreoretinal adhesion – the retina was not torn which harmless pigmented area might have been there for a long time.

And also the treatment? Do nothing at all. Grateful but slightly spend-shocked, I left.

Although some opticians and treatment centers are providing this scan like a sexy extra, my experience begs this: Why would anybody put themselves via a condition-of-the-art scan that may provide an incorrect-positive and cause huge anxiety?

Some specialists couldn’t agree more. Mr Ray Benjamin, consultant ophthalmologist at Stoke Mandeville Hospital along with a spokesperson for that Royal College of Eye specialists, states screening similar to this may be useful for individuals with conditions for example diabetes.

‘If you can place very early-indicators in these instances, then more might be completed to prevent sight loss. But somebody who has no genealogy of eye problems or disease, no signs and symptoms with no other reason to accept test – besides the understanding that it's available – should think hard about getting it.’

He explained: ‘The most of us may have little anomalies within the backs in our eyes which are benign – as was your situation.’

Manchester-based optician Robert Glass, that has chosen to not offer this test in the practices, concurs: ‘A routine eye examination, effectively completed by an eye doctor, while using more standard equipment obtainable in today’s optical practices, can frequently become more good at discovering eye disease.’

The Optomap may be a part of a burgeoning industry – indeed Tesco Opticians offers it in six of their stores just for ?10. However, Mr Benjamin states: ‘People must have a typical sight test every 2 yrs and just visit their specialist between tests should they have any signs and symptoms that alarm them.’

Tests like these are meant to give satisfaction. In my opinion, it did everything however that.