A retinal examination without dilating drops is the modern gold standard in ophthalmological screening and offers you the highest level of comfort, safety, and precision at our Frankfurt practice. Previously, a thorough examination of the fundus (back of the eye) inevitably involved dilating the pupils with medication – and thus hours of glare sensitivity and a ban on driving. At the ophthalmology practice of Dr. Mareen Schmidt & Dr. Sebastian Schmidt in Frankfurt's Westend district, we rely on state-of-the-art wide-angle scanning technology, which provides a comprehensive Retinal examination without a wide field of view In the vast majority of cases, this makes it possible to easily integrate important preventative care into your everyday life.
Thanks to this advanced method – retinal examination without dilating drops – you can easily schedule your preventative care appointment into your daily routine. The examination is quick, contactless, and has no downtime.
Drive a car: You can drive your car immediately afterwards as usual.
To the office / Signing contracts: There is no glare, so you can immediately get back to work, sign contracts, or perform other tasks that require concentration.
To do sports: Nothing will prevent you from resuming your sporting activities immediately after the examination.
No glare: The disturbing, hours-long light sensitivity that typically accompanies wide-angle eye drops is eliminated.
Important NOTE: In rare cases, it may be medically necessary to dilate the pupil with medication, for example, to treat a very peripheral condition (such as a retinal tear). Driving is prohibited only in these exceptional cases.
The retina is the eye's „film“—a highly complex layer consisting of millions of light-sensitive photoreceptor cells.1 Retinal diseases often develop gradually and unnoticed, but can lead to severe and irreversible vision loss. Only regular, careful examinations can detect these changes early.
A retinal examination is crucial for the early detection of:
Early detection of these diseases is key to successful treatment and preserving your eyesight.
The traditional examination method involves administering eye drops that dilate the pupil (mydriasis). This was the only way for the doctor to obtain a sufficient view of the back of the eye and the periphery of the retina. While this method is tried and tested, it has significant disadvantages for patients:
The modern retinal examination without dilating drops in our Frankfurt practice utilizes a revolutionary technology: ultra-wide-angle scanning. This procedure works like a digital panoramic photograph of your retina.
You look into a device for a few seconds that scans your retina with harmless laser light. Within an instant, a high-resolution digital image is created, showing a retinal area of up to 200 degrees in a single shot. This corresponds to 82% of the entire retina. As a composite image, which is made up of several images, even 96% of the retina be displayed.
This is a much larger area than would be visible during a conventional examination without pupil dilation. Drs. Mareen and Sebastian Schmidt can immediately analyze the image on the monitor, magnify it, and reliably detect even the smallest changes.
The following table highlights the key advantages that our modern system offers you. Retinal examination without a wide field of view offers.
Feature | Classical examination with wide-drop | Retinal examination without a wide field of view |
unfitness to drive | Yes, for several hours. | No, You will be able to drive again immediately. |
Glare sensitivity | Yes, very pronounced for several hours. | No, no impairment. |
Duration of the examination | Longer, due to the waiting time for the drops. | Very fast, the recording only takes a few seconds. |
documentation | Medical drawing and description. | High-resolution digital photo for precise comparisons of trends. |
Patient comfort | Often perceived as unpleasant. | Fast, contactless and very comfortable. |
Scope of the presentation | Good overview, but dependent on cooperation. | A comprehensive panorama that also captures the periphery well. |
The following overview highlights the key advantages that our modern retinal examination without dilating drops offers you:
Unfitness to drive:
Classic: Yes, for several hours.
Without widening drops: No, you are fit to drive again immediately.
Glare sensitivity:
Classic: Yes, very pronounced for several hours.
Without widening drops: No, no impairment.
Duration of the examination:
Classic: Longer, due to the waiting time for the drops.
Without widening drops: Very fast, the recording only takes a few seconds.
Documentation:
Classic: Medical drawing and description.
Without widening drops: High-resolution digital photo for precise comparisons of trends.
Patient comfort:
Classic: Often perceived as unpleasant.
Without widening drops: Fast, contactless and very comfortable.
Scope of the presentation:
Classic: Good overview, but dependent on cooperation.
Without widening drops: A comprehensive panorama that also captures the periphery well.
For most preventive examinations and screening purposes, the Retinal examination without a wide field of view This provides an excellent and often even more comprehensive overview of the retina than a conventional examination. Digital documentation also allows for superior monitoring of disease progression. Only in very specific cases or when a therapeutic intervention is planned might dilating drops be necessary in addition.
In the vast majority of cases, it works Retinal examination without a wide field of view No problems. In patients with a very small pupil or advanced lens opacity (cataracts), image quality may be limited. In these rare cases, it may be necessary to further dilate the pupil to ensure a reliable assessment.
No, the Retinal examination without a wide field of view It is completely painless. You will feel nothing except a brief, harmless flash of light, similar to a photograph. The entire process is contactless and only takes a few seconds, making it a very comfortable examination method.
Please allow 30 minutes for your appointment (mandatory).
In nearsighted people, the eyeball is longer, which leads to a stretching of the retina.4 This increases the risk of developing thin spots, holes, or tears in the peripheral retina. Retinal examination without a wide field of view It enables an excellent representation of these peripheral areas and is therefore an ideal method for preventative care in cases of high myopia.
Yes, indirectly. The high-resolution recording at the Retinal examination without a wide field of view It also provides a very detailed image of the optic nerve head. An experienced ophthalmologist like Dr. Mareen Schmidt can already detect early signs of glaucomatous damage here. However, for a complete glaucoma diagnosis, additional measurements such as intraocular pressure and an OCT scan of the optic nerve are necessary.
We recommend regular Retinal examination without a wide field of view As part of your general eye exam. For healthy adults without risk factors, an interval of two years is often sufficient. If risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high myopia are present, annual checkups are strongly recommended.
No, with the Retinal examination without a wide field of view A harmless, visible laser light with very low energy is used. There is no X-ray or UV radiation whatsoever. The examination is completely safe and can be repeated as often as necessary, even in children or during pregnancy.
At the practice of Dr. Mareen Schmidt & Dr. Sebastian Schmidt, you benefit from the combination of state-of-the-art technology and the highest level of professional expertise. We take the time to show you the high-resolution images of your retina and to explain the findings clearly. Retinal examination without a wide field of view With us, it's more than just a photo – it's an important part of a comprehensive, personal health consultation.
Check-ups, laser medicine, interdisciplinary ophthalmology
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