Members of the 23rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron optometry flight here recently conducted training with a new piece of equipment that helps them diagnose ocular diseases and announce Airmen as ready for duty.
The high-definition optical coherence tomography machine allows optometrists to clearly see the retina.
“The HD-OCT machine lets technicians clearly see what is going on behind and beneath the eye, so a proper diagnosis can be made,” said Kevin Ott, a representative from the manufacturer, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. “The way it functions can be best compared to an ultrasound, but instead of using sound, the machine uses light to provide an accurate image.”
Features of the machine include the automatic selection of the clearest images and determination of which eye is being scanned, allowing optometrists to be even more proficient in patient care.
“Having this machine provides two benefits to patients,” said Tech. Sgt. Kristina Singley, the 23rd AMDS optometry flight NCO in charge. “It prevents us from having to give them a referral to see a provider downtown, and it also means one less appointment they have to go to.
“Fewer appointments can lead to a quicker diagnosis, which can be especially important for patients with diabetes,” Sergeant Singley said.
Though flight members rarely see patients with diabetes, they strive to provide an overall positive medical experience for all patients.
“We aim to provide quality eye care for everyone who comes through our doors,” said Capt. Michael Tommolino, the flight commander. “The most common situations we deal with are routine eye exams, but we also see a lot of infections caused by contact lens misuse.
“To help decrease the amount of infections and problems overall, we also aim to educate the base populace on protecting their vision,” Captain Tommolino said. “I find everything in my job very rewarding, especially helping the patients enhance their vision as much as possible.”
