A BERKHAMSTED opticians has invested nearly £40,000 in what’s been called a revolutionary piece of diagnostic equipment.
The 3D OpticalCoherence Tomography system (3D OCT) at David Paul Opticians, in High Street, can detect key eye conditions, such as glaucoma, age related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy during an advanced eye examination.
David Levy, of David Paul Opticians, said: “The equipment costs just shy of £40,000. Clearly, this is a major investment and while I will probably not recoup the full cost directly, despite the additional charge that applies for an OCT scan, I very much see it as a way of differentiating myself from the ordinary high street optician and offering this additional service fits well with our aim to provide the very best eye care service.”
He explained how the system could help patients. “Our optometrist can review the images with you and pin point any areas of concern by digitally peeling the layers back until they define what it is that they have identified as requiring further investigation.
“The OCT scan is painless with no contact or sudden puffs of air.”
David Paul Opticians opened in 1994 and Mr Levy says he has “always aimed to provide a full optical service.” This includes additional tests that do not form part of a NHS eye examination.
OCT is similar to an ultrasound scanner but uses light instead of sound waves to take a three-dimensional image and look beneath the surface of the retina.
Mr Levy added that his business strategy is to regularly invest in cutting edge equipment.
He added: “Around five years ago we purchased a fundus camera that enables an optometrist to take a digital picture of the retina that provides a much better image than can be seen with the use of the traditional ophthalmoscope.”