Digital retinal imaging allows the doctor to evaluate the health of the back of your eye, the retina. It is used to detect and monitor the progression of diseases, such as diabetes, macular degeneration, cardiovascular disease, and glaucoma. It is critical to confirm the health of the retina, optic nerve, and other retinal structures.
Many eye diseases, if detected at an early stage, can be treated successfully without total loss of vision. Your digital retinal images become a permanent part of your electronic health record which helps to assist the doctor in detecting and measuring any changes in your retinal health. This is especially important in the diagnosis of glaucoma, as changes to the optic nerve head over time can be indicative of the disease.