Many doctor’s offices have begun offering retinal photography, sometimes termed mapping, in the last few years. And while retinal imaging is beneficial, it falls short in a number of areas. In our office we use the TOPCON Maestro. An Optical Coherence Tomographer (OCT) and digital imagery suite, the Maestro goes far beyond capturing a photo of your retina. In a fashion as a CAT/CT scan of an internal organ, the OCT looks into the tissues of the eye’s structure, providing a 3D image of the retina, macula and optic nerve. This is the gold standard of advanced detection of optical diseases, yet takes but a couple quick minutes to accomplish. You look at a lighted dot, the device automatically focuses and in an instant, it’s done. Using this technology, we can spot issues ranging from glaucoma, macular degeneration and dozens of others as well as systemic diseases such as diabetic and blood pressure issues. Additionally, these images are archived for future comparison during your visits. Be aware: No imaging is a substitute for an exam that includes dilation. No mapping or imaging equipment manufacturer makes claim that their equipment supplants the need for this procedure. It is part of the state’s requirement of a comprehensive exam and no existing standard of practice accepts imaging as a substitute.