Equipment

The office of Advanced Vision Specialists is proud to offer the finest ophthalmic medical equipment and testing capabilities to diagnose and treat our valued patients. This state-of-the-art equipment is available in our office, because we strive to go above and beyond the usual standard of care found in many other ophthalmology practices. Dr. Bello has written a brief description about these machines, to help you better understand some of the testing that may be performed during your exam.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

This is a very sophisticated machine that allows the doctor to view the macula (central vision) within a few microns. The doctor is able to see the structure of the retina, to view any inflammation, blood and macular degenerative changes.

This is a very valuable tool that is used to assist the doctor in diagnosing what could be causing the patient to have certain visual difficulties. It takes away any guesswork and it could also prevent the patient from undergoing a more invasive procedure (Fluorescein Angiography).

Preferential Hyperacuity Perimeter (PHP)

This machine measures Preferential Hyperacuity Perimetry, which provides valuable information to aid the physician in the early diagnosis of the wet form of macular degeneration. It is a noninvasive test that shows if the macula (central vision) has been disrupted. During the course of the test, the patient is asked to touch the screen with a stylus and to identify any interruptions in a line displayed on the computer screen.

This test, taken with or without the OCT, assists the doctor in diagnosing the wet type of macular degeneration.

QuantifEye

An integral part of our macular degeneration risk management program, QuantifEye is a state-of-the-art non-invasive device that accurately measures macular pigment density levels.  It is a 1-3 minute test that will assist Dr. Bello with the assessment of the overall macular degeneration risks for patients over the age of 21. Read more about our macular degeneration risk management program.

Visual Field Machine

This machine helps the doctor determine and follow the progression of any blind spots in your field of vision. During this test, with one eye covered at a time, you are asked to look forward at a fixation light in the center of a bowl-shaped machine. As the test progresses, the machine briefly shines tiny bursts of light with varying intensity, one at a time, throughout different spots within the interior area of the bowl. When you notice each flicker of light, you immediately click a button on a handheld device. The test takes about 5-15 minutes per eye.

The visual field test helps the doctor determine if a patient has any visual field defects and if their glaucoma is being controlled. This can aid the doctor’s decision as to whether or not to change the current treatment regime. The visual field test can be repeated as often as needed.

Pentacam

The Pentacam is a remarkable machine, capable of taking photographs and measurements of the front and back of the cornea, the anterior chamber of the eye, the cornea’s curvature, and any astigmatism which can affect vision. It is also able to detect Keratoconus, thus avoiding possible complications in cornea surgery. This test takes only about 10-15 seconds to perform.

Immersion A- Scan

This is another method that measures the length of the eyeball. It uses a technique that involves ultrasound waves and water to obtain its results. It can be used in lieu of, or in conjunction with, the IOL Master, and is especially useful when measuring dense cataracts.

Computerized Vision Testing System (COS)

This is an integrated machine, with sophisticated technology, that measures the prescription of your glasses, determines what glass prescription is needed, and measures corneal curvature. It takes only about 2-4 minutes to perform most calculations.

The COS offers more objective measurements to ensure accurate readings, resulting in better vision.