Question about retinoscopes

[JapAnime]

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For those who are practicing ODs and optometry students. What brand of retinoscope would you recommend? I have to buy a diagmostic kit soon and there are 3 to choose from: 1) Heine 2) Keeler and 3) Welsh Allyn. Can you give me any tips/advice. If you own any one of these three can you tell me some things that you like/dislike about them. I want to invest in a good one that has the best optics. Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Japanime

 

[4Eyes]

I know it's SO hard deciding on equipment when you haven't learned how to use it yet! I'm a 2nd year student now, so I don't have just a whole lot of experience to go on, but I really like my Welch Allyn diagnosic set. I have absolutely no complaints.

From what I gather, they're all good...it just comes down to preference. Did you have an equipment fair or something where you could try them out and see what you like? Perhaps there are some 2nd years at your school that will let you try theirs out?

I got the lithium ion handles and I really like them. I know some people that got one of each, but all they ever want to use is the Li-ion. I don't know if that helps.

As for o-scopes, I got the pan optic too. I honestly haven't used it at all. People who use it regularly love it--I just didn't want to learn on it. I hear it's easier for young kids, which may be important to you. I also hear it's good to have if you get a lot of patients who uh...don't bathe regularly. You don't have to get as close.

Sorry, I guess this question was more about ret, but that's my .02 😉

 

[ucbsowarrior]

For those who are practicing ODs and optometry students. What brand of retinoscope would you recommend? I have to buy a diagmostic kit soon and there are 3 to choose from: 1) Heine 2) Keeler and 3) Welsh Allyn. Can you give me any tips/advice. If you own any one of these three can you tell me some things that you like/dislike about them. I want to invest in a good one that has the best optics. Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Japanime

get a wa as the sourcing for batteries and bulbs is more abundant

 

[sco1styear]

I have a WA and love it, but everyone has their own preferences.

 

[ODtobe]

One of my friends and I were saying that the difference between a Heine and a Welch-Allyn is like a Macintosh computer and a PC... maybe a Mac actually has better technology, but since everyone has PCs, its easier to have the same. So yeah, it's much easier to get batteries, chargers, etc... and chances are more people will have the Welch-Allyn so when you're in clinic and using someone else's or on a rotation/clerkship, you'll probably see more WAs. It's like that at PCO anyways. That's what I have and I love it. Also at PCO you can use the pan-optic for practicals so it's nice to have.

 

[cpw]

I'm a Heine girl, but you get used to whatever you buy. Once you're out you're going to use anything they have in the charging well.. so definitely practice with other student's stuff too to get used to everything.

 

[JapAnime]

I thank you all for your advice. It's difficult when you have to buy equipment before you even know what you need it for and why you need it.

~Japanime

 

[OD2B07]

I got a wellsh allyn set w/ the lithium handles and the panoptic. I really like and use my pan optic. It's one of those things that are nice to have but not a necessity. If you are thinking of getting it just make yourself a promise to learn how to use it well and use it often. A lot of my classmates bought one but the school didn't really do much to integrate it into the classes so they don't use thiers. I love mine. You get use to whatever you buy and any of those brands will work great.

OD2B07

 

[Eyegirl2k7]

Get whatever feels right in your hand. I have Keeler and love it.

The one thing I've heard from my classmates with WA stuff is that the rheostat sticks a bit on the direct.

Eyegirl

 

[r_salis]

Get whatever feels right in your hand. I have Keeler and love it.

Ditto. 🙂