Accuracy-The key to topography

By John Evans, Optometrist, Randwick NSW

I first experienced Medmont products back in 1989 when I purchased my automated perimeter and had been keenly anticipating their E300 corneal topography system.

My reasons for purchasing a topographer for my practice had been ingrained a few years ago. My first pair of RGP multifocals were made on a computerised lathe in Italy in 1999 after an optometrist used a corneal topographer and went ahead and manufactured while I waited.

While there is not an argument to set myself up with a lathe in my practice, the argument for a topographer was immediately evident. In less time than it takes to record measurements off my keratometer, I would get an exponentially clearer picture of what was going on in a patient's cornea, making the old science of fitting RGPs look more like guesswork.

Having already entered a spectacle prescription into the software and with the corneal topography results, I can now design a contact lens and not have to worry about ordering a trial lens. Simulated fluoroscein patterns for a growing range of RGP fits are available in the database, together with the ability to customise lenses to my patient's needs.

This has proved invaluable for first-time RGP patients and for those who, for hygiene reasons, are uncomfortable about the use of a trial lens.

I have found the E300 to be an extremely simple instrument to use, with the automatic acquisition of images there is no need to press a button. All I do is line up the patient and the software does the rest. This negates the problem of operator error, trying to time exactly when to press a capture button and the slight movements when doing so, therefore improving accuracy immeasurably.

In addition the software for my perimeter has been updated to allow me to use the one database for the two instruments, with the facility to add more instrumentation as Medmont increases its range. Obviously this will reduce time inputting data repetitively and adds value to my practice. The ability to not just test with a Fast Threshold format (three to five minutes on a Central 30 degree field) but also to retest suspect points while the test is still running has improved patient comfort dramatically. The ability to navigate your way through processes such as comparisons of previous results is infinitely simpler, with a highly improved display format.

The new flexibility of the Medmont Studio format has proved to be intuitive and simple to navigate. I look forward to seeing what project the Medmont team set their sights to next.