EURETINA 2023: Ali Erginay, MD, discusses advancements in ultra-widefield imaging

This week, the 23rd annual EURETINA Congress is underway in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Ali Erginay, MD, spoke with our team about his presentation, titled "Introducing optomap® Ultra-widefield Colour Red-Green-Blue Multimodal Imaging." Here's what he had to say about the latest technology in ultra-widefield imaging.

Editor's note: This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Hattie Hayes: Hi, my name is Hattie Hayes and I'm the editor of Ophthalmology Times Europe. This year, the EURETINA conference will be in Amsterdam, and today we are going to speak with Dr Ali Erginay about his presentation, "Introducing the optomap ultra-widefield red, green and blue multimodal imaging device." Dr Erginay, please go ahead and tell us about your presentation.

Ali Erginay, MD: It's an exciting subject, because Optos is a pioneer in the ultra wide field imaging system. They used to use [only] two laser beams, red and green. So this technology is something new: they add the third color, which is blue. In the first look, the images are better, more beautiful. But the question is, of course in ophthalmology, we love images [that look] as much real as possible, compared to what we see during the examination. The question is, what's its impact? Does it change something–is it only the aesthetic, or is it giving something more for our analysis for diagnosis?

So we had, in my hospital in Paris, Lariboisière Hospital, we had the privilege to use this camera. We were so surprised, because the quality of image is amazing. But it's not the only advantage. Also, when we look at the small lesions, lesions are more visible, very easily detectable, [inaudible]. So there are so many advantages. I mean, the images are really very good, beautiful, but they give us more information. I just want to give our experiences.

I had the possibility to to use the camera on different pathologies. High myopia, diabetic retinopathy, applications where I can look at the small lesions, even in the macula. Small lesions like EMR, [inaudible] vessels that we use, we see a lot in diabetic patients, but also far periphery, the abnormalities, the ischemic areas like diabetic retinopathy and highly myopic patients. We know that we are capable to have about 200 degree images. It's about covering 82% of the retina in less than five seconds. Even you don't have need to dilate the patient, it's an advantage, because people, especially diabetic patients, they don't want to come to the clinic because they know that if their pupils are dilated, they won't see very clear during a few hours.

This camera has the advantage to take, in one shot, in five seconds, 82% of retina in five seconds. It's great. Plus, if you place the fixation point in four directions, it can go up to 95% of retina. Can you imagine? You select [inaudible], and you see 95% of the retina. It is is amazing.

The question is not true color or not. The question is true beauty. The images are beautiful, but it gives more information, which is more important for ophthalmologists. Having three colors, as opposed to two. Able to 200 degrees with about 82 [percent]. With the panorama, with the montage, can arrive to 95% of the retina.

Hayes: What's next for this technology?

Erginay: Actually, this camera takes really very close to the truth colors, color photos. The autofluorescent images are wonderful and realize a fluorescein angiogram. What's missing is ICG angiogram, but it will be available in one month.