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For practicing optometry students and current optometrists out there: what diagnostic equipment do you use?
Quick poll: What diagnostic equipment do you use???
- Thread starter alferec
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O-scope, pretty much all the same to me. Transilluminator all the same to me. I love the Keeler Retinoscope (bright, easy to use and simple to turn the streak).
BIO Heine or Keeler. I kinda wished I would have bought a wireless one in school.
My 2 cents
Transilluminators are all the same, thats for sure. I also agree with the comment about the brightness of the Keeler Retinoscope. Whenever a student borrows my scope, or a faculties uses it, they always comment on the brightness of it. I think it is great.
As far as Heine BIOs. I don't know if they fixed them, but I worked for the biomedical services at ICO and Heine gave us a bunch of the newest model last year to put in some of the rooms at school. After a few weeks we told them to take them back and send the old ones. The quality was crap, they were made almost entirely out of plastic. We had a ton of complaints about them.
I find the Keeler equipment to just feel more solid.
Aren't they all made of basically just plastic? At SCO we all had a few weeks to use Heine, Keeler, and WA BIOs - Heine and Keeler were both ordered about the same.
can anyone do a quick review of the instrument they own (ie keeler has a bright streak), what they like and dislike... i still cant decide!!!!
also is there any reason to go for an o scope with a broader Diopter range (heine seems to have the largest range -35-35, while the cheaper welch allyn is around -30-30) ? or am i just thinking too much?
any comments on the panoptic and if its worth the money? thanks!! 🙂
also is there any reason to go for an o scope with a broader Diopter range (heine seems to have the largest range -35-35, while the cheaper welch allyn is around -30-30) ? or am i just thinking too much?
any comments on the panoptic and if its worth the money? thanks!! 🙂
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I hear that the panoptic is useful for kids and for VOSH trips (i.e. going out to the field). Other than that, most students stick with the regular opthalmoscope.
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We had a presentation from Heine on Friday, and the salesman actually started off by speaking about the very incident you are describing. He described it as "very embarrasing" for the company. According to him, and remember he's trying to get us to buy his equipment, the problem with the BIOs last year was a defect in the battery cell, something that isn't actually manufactured by Heine. They fixed it by replacing everybody's battery, whether it was working or not.
I'm new at this... but aren't all BIOs made up of plastic?
So far, I'm considering the Heine set with the slim handles. They also have a new Alpha-something o-scope head that is really tiny. That head combined with the small handle seems like a pen you could slip in your pocket. We'll see if that's what I end up with though... still haven't seen the Keeler presentation, and we are having an equipment fair soon, where I'll try to hold and compare each one.
My BIO is Heine and I really like it. The little energy indicator is very valuable for clinic. Yeah the old batteries were defective and it was frustrating for awhile, but these new ones work very well and they match the clinic coat color. For me Woodlyn was out of the question, they didn't even have a representative here. I would have considered Keeler if the price were cut in half. Wireless can be nice but I don't want it that bad. Besides everything else is just as quality as the others. Welch Allen just didn't do it for me.
You should try all the BIO's on and wear them to see which feels best. All of the equiptment has the required diagnostic attachements, some have more bells and whistles than the others. My class purchased porbably 60% Heine and as far as I know everyone is happy with it.
As for the Ret. and Opthal, again it is really up to what is more comfortable for you. I got Welch Allen and it works well for me. The otoscope head fits right on too.
Lastly, what is it with plastic being so horrible? I prefer something lighter on my head that won't corrode.
You should try all the BIO's on and wear them to see which feels best. All of the equiptment has the required diagnostic attachements, some have more bells and whistles than the others. My class purchased porbably 60% Heine and as far as I know everyone is happy with it.
As for the Ret. and Opthal, again it is really up to what is more comfortable for you. I got Welch Allen and it works well for me. The otoscope head fits right on too.
Lastly, what is it with plastic being so horrible? I prefer something lighter on my head that won't corrode.
Some people don't buy the pan optic because you can't use it for boards, but others like it and plan to use it after graduation. I didn't get it because I think My BIO and high plus lens will do anything that will do. It's another nice thing to have if you like it though.
Remember, there is no cookbook for becoming a doctor. Being a doctor we are trained with the information we need to practice, and its up to us to find the tools we need to provide the best care that we can.
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So, from reading this thread and others on the same subject, the general advice seems to be get what feels most comfortable for you, and barring problems, you'll grow to like it? Is there really a wrong choice? (I've been told to stay away from Propper, but other than that... can I pick "bad" equipment?)
I was wondering if someone could throw out some ballpark figures on what I should expect to pay for the diagnostic set? I know that the brands vary in price, and each school may negotiate a slightly different price, but what should I set aside?
Thanks guys!!!
I was wondering if someone could throw out some ballpark figures on what I should expect to pay for the diagnostic set? I know that the brands vary in price, and each school may negotiate a slightly different price, but what should I set aside?
Thanks guys!!!
You are right, there really isn't a wrong choice for you. I remember going through this like it was yesterday (wishful thinking). It seems like such a tough decision, but I can tell you that in the end it won't matter too much which you choose unless you go with a bad company. Welch Allyn, Heine, and Keeler are all reputable companies and their products are all fine. Propper, to me, always felt like Heine's uglier sister. That is most likely due to the fact that they had just recently split from each other when I was a 1st year. Good luck with your decisions, but don't sweat the small stuff.
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The ICO 1st years just bought our ophthalmoscope/retinoscope sets. WA was $560 for the base set, which had 1 lithium handle and 1 NiCad. Keeler's base set was $625 with 1 lithium handle. Heine's base set was $668 with 1 lithium handle. To get an extra handle with each of those was around $125-175. I went with Welch Allyn. I'd say maybe 65% of my class did as well.
The PanOptic was an additional $260 or so.
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but yes pge,
once you find what you like it becomes yours and there is no wrong chice. but really really love my panoptic😍 ! in addition to those pretty views, it has really helped me to learn to pivot with my regular DO,
for BIO - i'm thinking WA again because it is so light, but i do like the new Hiene (which most of my friends bought last year)
once you find what you like it becomes yours and there is no wrong chice. but really really love my panoptic😍 ! in addition to those pretty views, it has really helped me to learn to pivot with my regular DO,
for BIO - i'm thinking WA again because it is so light, but i do like the new Hiene (which most of my friends bought last year)
A lot of people have commented on my "plastic comment." Yes, most are made of plastic, but they were still built well. The Heine felt like it was made in some crappy Chinese factory next to the Chinese finger-traps.
As Dr. Hom said. All the main companies are very good, so go with what you like on your head. In the end you will like what you get.
As Dr. Hom said. All the main companies are very good, so go with what you like on your head. In the end you will like what you get.
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I agree with Dr. Hom..."in the end you will like what you get"
I remember being faced with the major purchase decisions of school...I did not want to end up with cognitive dissonance with what I chose as my diagnostic equipment. Most of the ophthalmic equipment from the various manufacturers gave good comfort and preformance when I sampled each. I really wanted someone(upperclass or professors, someone) to say "buy keeler" or "buy heine"... but in the end I made the decision and went with Heine.
Several years later I am very satisfied with the decision. I can attest to the equipment being at least as durable as the finger-traps🙄 ...I have dropped my BIO several times and it behaves like a Timex(an expensive model timex).😉
Planex makes a good point. The hardware you purchase has to be durable. Despite your best efforts, the cords will be caught in clothing. You will turn your head too quickly and yank the connector out of the AC wall unit or battery pack, or when you pick up the BIO, you drop it. I always try to review the floor space first before entering an unknown room to ensure that no chairs have tangled up the power cords or connecting cords.
Also when using the BIO, the controls to change the filters and diameter of the spot must be logical. It' s important not to look like your fiddling with the equipement to make it work. It makes the patient more nervous than necessary.
Also when using the BIO, the controls to change the filters and diameter of the spot must be logical. It' s important not to look like your fiddling with the equipement to make it work. It makes the patient more nervous than necessary.
