Here at the Crookston and Fosston Eye Clinic we utilize many machines to ensure the proper care of your eyes. While they each have specific functions, they all help monitor your vision and the health of your eyes. These machines are all non-evasive and easy to perform at your comfort.The results of all of these machines are stored in your chart and can be compared from year-to-year to get a full picture of your eye health. 

We use our Autorefractor machine at the beginning of most routine exams. This machine takes a measurement of your eyes while you look at an image and calculates an estimate of your prescription. Your eye doctor will then use this prescription as a starting point to determine the final correction your eyes need (this process is also known as refraction).

The Visual Field test is primarily used to track vision loss over time and help detect blind spots. This is done by looking inside the dome of the Visual Field machine and indicating with a clicker when you can see the various bright and dim light flashes that appear.

Our OCT machine (Optical Coherence Tomography) takes a cross-section image of your retina that shows its various layers. The image containing your macula and optic nerve is taken while you look at an asterisk shaped star of light inside the machine. The OCT helps with detecting macular holes, macular puckers, macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.

The Optos machine provides a substitute for dilation for most patients. It is used to take a high-resolution 200 degree photo of the back of your eye without the use of dilation drops. Unlike dilation drops, the Optos imaging does not result in any lingering blurry vision. Optos pictures can help us detect age-related macular degeneration, hypertension, caner, stroke, glaucoma, and more. 

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Written by: Ashlyn B, optometric technician since 2021