Panoptic doesn't work with my eye

[DoctaJay]

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I'm pretty myopic and when I take off my glasses to use the panoptic ophthalmoscope, it just doesn't focus well enough for me to see anything but blur. The direct scope focuses fine, and I can see clearly at the limited view it offers. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm pretty myopic and when I take off my glasses to use the panoptic ophthalmoscope, it just doesn't focus well enough for me to see anything but blur. The direct scope focuses fine, and I can see clearly at the limited view it offers. Has anyone else had this problem?

You should be able to adjust it to jibe with your eye's lens -- it's just a matter of finding the appropriate distance setting. Hard to imagine it doesn't work for you. I'd keep playing with it. Did they give you a mock pupil to look at -- I'd keep changing the adjustments until it worked with that.

 

[MattD]

I could be wrong as I certainly haven't seen data/done experiments to confirm it, but I own both scopes, and the diopter range of the panoptic definitely seems to be limited when compared to the 'traditional' scope. It's also a smooth focus rather than a clicker, so while you can get those in between levels of focus, you can't quantify that focus. It's all a trade-off, and I suppose if you needed a measurement of the disc or something you'd pull out the old standby scope. Or get ophtho to do it 🙂

My question is, why do you take off your glasses to use the scope? I always leave mine on, it works fine for me that way.

 

[Ashers]

Wow, I have the opposite problem. I can't use the normal scope head that's found in nearly every office (at least I can't use it correctly). People correct me non-stop and tell me to keep both eyes open, but I can't see through the scope that way. I think it's the same reason I can't look through binoculars, binocular microscopes, etc unless I have one eye closed. Exotropia I believe -- I got prisms in reading glasses, so I'd get fewer headaches.

 

[DoctaJay]

I could be wrong as I certainly haven't seen data/done experiments to confirm it, but I own both scopes, and the diopter range of the panoptic definitely seems to be limited when compared to the 'traditional' scope. It's also a smooth focus rather than a clicker, so while you can get those in between levels of focus, you can't quantify that focus. It's all a trade-off, and I suppose if you needed a measurement of the disc or something you'd pull out the old standby scope. Or get ophtho to do it 🙂

My question is, why do you take off your glasses to use the scope? I always leave mine on, it works fine for me that way.

I was told to take them off when I use it. It was fine with the traditional since it focuses great. I'll try it with the panoptic and my glasses on to see if it makes a difference.

 

[njbmd]

Panoptic doesn't work for everyone. I am not myopic but I can do a better exam with a conventional opthalmoscope (mastered this thoroughly) than with the panoptic. While you can see a much wider visual field with the panoptic, you can do more with the conventional once you learn the tricks of changing the diopter scale to examine anterior and posterior structures and measurements.

I have both Panoptic and conventional scopes and use them for different things. I wear reading glasses and remove them (as glasses should be removed). Just be sure that you know how to adjust refraction in your eye and the patients. A good way to practice is to practice focus on your hand.

Also, many people are afraid to get as close as they need to be for both scopes. Your working distance is further out for the panoptic than conventional but in both cases, you are in close. There is a learning curve here.

 

[xanthines]

I don't own the panopticon, but I've noticed that my eyes don't work with certain telescope setups! 😕 I don't have astigmatism or anything, but I am myopic. Someone gave me a hand-waving explanation about the curvature of my eye or something, but it wasn't convincing.

-X