Welch-Allyn or Keeler?

[maxwellfish]

Ok ODs and OD students, what are your opinions on ophthalmoscopes and retinoscopes? What is your favorite? Why?

I know there is an old thread on this but I think some recent/new/updated opinions are due...

Post away!

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[rpames]

I have Keeler and I think they are great. But everyone I know with Welch-Allyn love them too. I can see everything I need to see with my Keeler, but I've used my friend's Welch and have no trouble seeing through theirs. I guess I'm trying to say is that it does not matter. I think the Keeler looks better than the Welch, but I just like the silver handles. 🙂

The one thing that did come up this year is that Welch's MEM cards (you'll learn about them later) is magnetic and sticks to the retniscope, while the Keeler has a clip that snaps on to the ret. The magnetic one seems to slide and fly off the ret very easily and I hear students complaining about it all the time. The Keeler one snaps on and stays on until I take it off. I think the magnet was a good idea, but it needs to stick a little better.

 

[r_salis]

I love my Keeler o-scope, I think the optics are superior to the WAs and Heines. Truth is, though, that once you get the hang of o-scoping it won't really matter which one you have because you'll be able to make anything you have work. Also, for what it's worth, WAs are all over the place in many offices out there -- so if you use whatever's on the wall, chances are it will be a WA.

As far as the rets go, I think there's less difference between the different vendors.

(rpames, I also like my silver handles better. 😉 )

 

[JG777]

i actually am going with heine. i feel comfortable holding it and maneuvering it. i liked welch allyn also, but i didnt' feel like i had a good grip on it as much as i did with heine. when i compared the 2 looking thru someone's eye, the heine opthalmascope didnt' produce as much glare as welch allyn and it was easier for me to look around the eye with ease. and since i have small hands and short fingers, holding the heine instruments allow me to have fluid range of movement.

optics are great for all three companies, the main difference is if it is comfortable for you and u're able to easily see out of it while looking thru a retina.