Equipment Question

[pre-opt]

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I am a 2nd year student, and as everyone knows, it is now time to buy equipment. I was wondering if anyone has advice about what Volk lenses to buy. I am considering either the 78 or 90. I have heard that which ever one you buy you will get used to. I also heard that the 78 is easier to learn on, but that most students end up buying the 90 later on. I don't really want to spend any more money on equipment than I have to, but I also don't want to struggle in clinic either. What would you all suggest?

Thanks!

 

[rpie]

I am a 2nd year student, and as everyone knows, it is now time to buy equipment. I was wondering if anyone has advice about what Volk lenses to buy. I am considering either the 78 or 90. I have heard that which ever one you buy you will get used to. I also heard that the 78 is easier to learn on, but that most students end up buying the 90 later on. I don't really want to spend any more money on equipment than I have to, but I also don't want to struggle in clinic either. What would you all suggest?

Thanks!

We use the 90D almost exclusively since we use it for SL poster pole and ONH photos. Using the 90D is not that difficult. Since you only want to get one lens going for the 90D. FYI One of our associates had a 78 and ended up buying a 90 because of the larger field.

 

[r_salis]

We use the 90D almost exclusively since we use it for SL poster pole and ONH photos. Using the 90D is not that difficult. Since you only want to get one lens going for the 90D. FYI One of our associates had a 78 and ended up buying a 90 because of the larger field.

The 90D is nice for the larger field, but the 78D is nice for the magnified view. 🙂 I have both, but if I had to choose only one I'd go with the 90D because you can get decent undilated views with it.

 

[Ben Chudner]

The 90 will also make it easier to get a look in an undilated eye. When I was a student there were a couple Omni rotations that kept the students so busy with work-ups that they never got a chance to look at the patient after they were dilated. The 90 allowed them to at least see stuff before having to move on to the next patient. Once you are in practice, you will have more than one lens anyway, so get the one that will work for the most patients now.

 

[PBEA]

Superfield is a great slit lamp lens.

 

[planex]

The 90D is nice for the larger field, but the 78D is nice for the magnified view. 🙂 I have both, but if I had to choose only one I'd go with the 90D because you can get decent undilated views with it.

I agree with r_salis👍
Take advantage of the loaner lenses that I bet your opt school has with volk or ocular science(my school did) and trial as many different lenses as possible and see what works for you best. I ended up with both also and use each often(think how nice it would be to have lenses in each exam room without having to haul them around room to room).
Some things I wasted money on in school...not equipment🙂 With the student pricing you get...I would buy both😉

 

[pre-opt]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I really wish that our school had some loaner lenses (as far as I know, we do not), but even if we did, I wouldn't have the first clue as to how to use one. So, any advice is helpful. I also have another equipment question. What would you all suggest about a 4 mirror gonioscope? There is one with a removable handle and the other is just the normal hand-held one. Also, would you all buy plastic or glass gonioscopes? I'm pretty sure that I am going to buy the glass, but figured I might as well ask. Any advice is appreciated! 🙂

 

[drgregory]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I really wish that our school had some loaner lenses (as far as I know, we do not), but even if we did, I wouldn't have the first clue as to how to use one. So, any advice is helpful. I also have another equipment question. What would you all suggest about a 4 mirror gonioscope? There is one with a removable handle and the other is just the normal hand-held one. Also, would you all buy plastic or glass gonioscopes? I'm pretty sure that I am going to buy the glass, but figured I might as well ask. Any advice is appreciated! 🙂

if i were on an OD school budget, id get a 90D - probably best for that scenario. later on you can buy a 66D for your GLC and macula and a digital 1.0 as well (or when you are getting ready to start buying equipment for your first practice just tell the dealer "i'll take it if you throw in a 66D Volk"). i prefer a 3 mirror gonio lens on most because everyone backs off and the 3 mirror generally stays on better, especially if you plan on using it some times for the central portion for retina.

 

[gtnpaid]

90D is an excellent post pole lens but when I used a friends 66D Superfield, I was sold...it's a great lens. I personally felt more stereopsis with the the Superfield.