Ophthalmic imaging is a highly specialised field of ophthalmology which helps doctors and clinicians to diagnose and manage a wide variety of eye conditions.
The team carry out a number of different tests which are used to help measure, diagnose, monitor and treat patients’ eye conditions. This is undertaken by ophthalmic photographers and ophthalmic imaging technicians.
Ophthalmology is a busy and constantly growing department and with its new instruments and techniques always improving, this allows us to better understand eye diseases and their treatments.
This also means we can offer the best possible patient experience and provide high quality imaging and allows us to minimise the time patients spend in the department.
These tests are all performed as outpatient appointments, and we offer our patients the very best and latest technologies in ophthalmic imaging which include:
Colour fundus imaging
This captures highly detailed colour images of the retina (at the back of the eye).
The cameras we use allow a wide range of specialised images including 3D imaging, ultra-wide field fundus photography and fundus autofluorescence, a technique using various differing wavelengths of light.
Ocular angiography
This shows the blood circulation within the eye to help doctors diagnose and treat conditions that affect the back or front of the eye.
Patients are injected in the arm with a dye which passes through blood vessels to the eye in within about 15 seconds. Very detailed photographs are then taken of the eye for around ten minutes.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
This test captures thousands of detailed scans showing the very fine layers that make up the retina (at the back of the eye) and choroid to help clinicians diagnose, monitor and plan treatments for various eye diseases and conditions.
OCT is a cross sectional and 3D imaging technique using the latest technology which lasts a few minutes and can also be used for the front of the eye, which is useful for imaging a damaged cornea (the front surface of the eye).
Anterior segment photography
This looks at the structures making up the front of the eye and any conditions which may affect them.
Highly magnified images can be taken, giving our clinicians a very detailed view of the cornea, iris and sclera (the white area of the eyeball).
Corneal topographic imaging
This creates a thorough and comprehensive view of the patient’s eye condition to fully understand the treatment options.
Corneal topography is a non-invasive and painless imaging technique that enables us to create a 3D map of the surface curvature of the cornea, the outer structure of the eye, within seconds. Patients may undergo several of these imaging tests.
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Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Address: Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Prescot Street
Liverpool
Merseyside
L7 8XPFor maps and other information visit our Getting Here page for Royal Liverpool University Hospital
St Paul’s Eye Unit
Lower Ground Floor
You might be seen in one of our outpatient clinics on the ground floor, so please refer to your appointment details.