Retinal photography creates a detailed digital image of the back of your eye, helping your optometrist monitor your eye health over time. Discover how it works and how it differs from OCT and Optomap imaging.
Author: Jo Lindley
Most eye conditions develop gradually and often without noticeable symptoms. That's why examining the back of your eyes is such an important part of a comprehensive eye test. Advanced retinal imaging allows your optometrist to detect subtle changes early, often before they begin to affect your vision.
At Leightons, digital retinal photography is included in all our private eye tests, providing a detailed colour image of the central retina, including the macula, optic nerve and retinal blood vessels.
Retinal photography is a non-invasive imaging technique that captures a high-quality colour image of the central retina, including the macula, optic nerve and retinal blood vessels.
To proceed, a specialised medical device is used to capture digital images of the inside of the eye.
The standard retinal photographs taken at Leightons are known as 45-degree retinal fundus photographs. They provide a detailed view of the central part of the retina, including the macula, optic nerve and retinal blood vessels. These images help your optometrist assess your eye health today while creating a permanent record for future comparison.
Optomap is a type of ultra-widefield retinal imaging that captures up to around 200° of the retina in a single image, meaning around three times more of the retina is imaged compared to standard retinal photography. Unlike standard retinal photography, it allows your optometrist to examine much more of the retina, including areas towards the outer edges of your eye. In addition, it images separate layers of the retina and captures autofluorescence, which provides more detailed information beyond a standard retinal photograph.
Unlike retinal photography, OCT doesn't take a photograph. Instead, it uses light waves to create detailed cross-sectional images of the retina. This allows your optometrist to see the individual layers and retinal structure beneath the surface and detect changes that may not be visible in a standard photograph.
Together, these imaging technologies give your optometrist a much more complete picture of your eye health than a standard eye examination alone.
Before seeing your optometrist, one of our experienced optical assistants may carry out a series of pre-imaging tests, including retinal photography. These images are then reviewed by your optometrist during your eye examination.
During these tests, you'll simply rest your chin on a support while looking into a specialised retinal camera. Bright flashes of light captures detailed images of the back of your eye. The process usually takes only a few seconds for each machine.
Most people find the test completely comfortable, and in many cases eye drops aren't required, as Optomap imaging can capture clear images even with smaller pupils without the need for dilation. However, for a standard retinal photograph, smaller pupils can affect image quality and may make dilation necessary.
The images allow your optometrist to examine important structures including:
These photographs help detect, monitor and manage many eye conditions, including:
The photograph creates a permanent record of your eye health, making it easier to compare future images and detect even small changes over time.
This is one of the most common questions patients ask. Although all three examine the back of the eye, they do so in different ways.
| Test | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 45° Retinal Fundus Photography | Takes a high-resolution colour photograph of the retina. | Recording the health of the retina and monitoring changes over time. |
| OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) | Creates detailed cross-sectional scans beneath the surface of the retina using light waves, in a similar way to how ultrasound is used to image an unborn baby. | Detecting early disease, measuring retinal layers and identifying problems invisible in standard photographs. |
| Optomap | Captures an ultra-widefield image of up to around 200° of the retina in one photograph. | Examining images across several layers and using retinal autofluorescence allows clinicians to assess much more of the peripheral retina without dilation in many patients. |
Think of it this way: retinal photography is like taking a detailed photograph, OCT lets your optometrist look beneath the surface of that photograph, and Optomap captures a much wider panoramic view of the retina. Each test provides different information, helping build a more complete picture of your eye health.
No single test can show everything.
Retinal photography provides an excellent record of the surface of your retina, while OCT reveals the microscopic layers beneath it. Optomap allows your optometrist to examine much more of the retina towards its outer edges.
Using these technologies together helps detect some eye conditions earlier and provides a more comprehensive understanding of your eye health.
Digital retinal photography gives us a clear, lasting record of your eye health. Your images are safely stored and can be compared over time, helping your optometrist spot even the smallest changes between appointments.
By tracking these changes, we can often detect and monitor eye conditions earlier, sometimes before you notice any difference in your vision.
Unlike a traditional handheld ophthalmoscope or examination with a Volk lens, which only allows us to view the back of your eye in the moment, retinal photography captures a detailed image that can be reviewed whenever needed. If further checks are required, these images can also support a referral to your GP or an eye specialist.
At Leightons, retinal photography is included as standard with our private eye tests.
If you're having an NHS-funded eye test, retinal photography can be added for a small additional fee. You can also choose to include advanced imaging such as OCT and Optomap, helping your optometrist examine more of your eye in greater detail.
Many eye conditions develop without obvious symptoms. Regular eye examinations, combined with advanced retinal imaging, can help detect changes earlier and support your eye health throughout life.
Whether you're due for a routine eye test or have concerns about your vision, our experienced optometrists are here to help.
Book your appointment online, call 0800 40 20 20, or visit your nearest Leightons practice.
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