Australian Optometrist First Independent to Receive Cylite's HP-OCT
- ByEmma Watkins --
- 2024-08-05 12:08:00 --
- 0 Comments --
- AU
A Next-Generation Imaging Technology Revolutionizing Clinical Care
In February 2024, Alice Springs optometrist JO MURPHY became the first independent optometrist in the world to purchase a Hyperparallel OCT (HP-OCT), representing the next generation of imaging technology invented, developed, and manufactured in Melbourne by Cylite. He discusses how this device is giving a new edge to his clinical work.
As a full-scope independent optometrist in Alice Springs, Mr. Jo Murphy offers a wide range of services, including specialty contact lens fitting, myopia management, and keratoconus examinations. When his previous OCT overheated and couldn't be repaired, he saw it as an opportunity to invest in a cutting-edge system that could perform multiple functions within his practice.
Murphy first encountered the Cylite HP-OCT at the O-SHOW22 and was immediately impressed by its true 3D imaging capabilities and potential to replace various standalone devices. He later visited the Cylite headquarters in Melbourne to trial a prototype and tour the manufacturing facility. With the device now commercially available, Eyecare Plus Alice Springs became the first independent practice to purchase the technology.
"It has the potential to replace so many machines; anterior and posterior corneal topography, a scleral topographer and biometry as well as full volumetric anterior and posterior OCT imaging, make it ideal for my practice," Murphy says. "While specialty contact lenses are a significant part of my work, it's also difficult for me to find the space and build a financial case for a machine that offers a standalone modality like scleral profiling. The Cylite HP-OCT is a much better proposition."
"What particularly stood out to me is that, with traditional OCTs, they are scanning with one beam of light, so you need to know what you want to capture. Whereas the HP-OCT incorporates a micro-lens array to split the light source into 1,008 individual beamlets – each of which scan a very small area. But these beamlets are scanning at the same time, which makes it less prone to some of the errors that can occur through movement. The HP-OCT then captures and builds a true 3D volumetric model – and you can decide however you want to view that once the scan has been acquired."
The HP-OCT's ability to capture a full 3D volumetric image of the anterior and posterior segments, allowing the practitioner to slice and cut in any direction, has been a game-changer for Murphy. He can now obtain a wealth of information without any gaps, holes, or stitching artifacts, which he previously struggled with using traditional OCTs.
This has been particularly beneficial in Murphy's management of keratoconus cases. The HP-OCT's highly accurate measurements of the topography of each optical surface within the anterior segment have proven invaluable, especially in cases of mild to moderate keratoconus. The system's tear film independence and resistance to ring jam have also made it excel in advanced keratoconus cases.
"Previously with keratoconus, we had to scan the eye with a corneal topographer, and then move them to our standard OCT, but this was only able to image about six millimetres at a time and just in single line scans. Now we can obtain all of this, plus more, in one scan," he explains.
The HP-OCT's potential in myopia management is another area that excites Murphy. The integration of the PreMO myopia app, developed by Professor James Wolffsohn and colleagues, will help clinicians predict myopia onset and progression, and monitor the effectiveness of treatment options.
"Again, it was hard to justify the capital expense or floor space of a machine that measures axial length alone, but to have it incorporated into an existing machine is ideal for our practice," he says.
To support the HP-OCT hardware, Cylite has developed the Focus software, which Murphy has found to be user-friendly and customizable. He is excited to see how the software will continue to evolve and provide even more capabilities for practitioners like himself.
"When you consider this machine is capturing a 3D volumetric scan of the eye using OCT technology, the options for what metrics can be extracted and compared over time are seemingly endless," he says. "The software developers are conscious of being able to provide a machine with customizable features so that individual practitioners or researchers can extract certain metrics that are useful to them, while also making the interface user-friendly."
As an optometrist working in Central Australia, often in remote settings, Murphy has seen the value of using the latest and most advanced tools to provide the best possible care. The Cylite HP-OCT has quickly become a key device in his equipment suite, revolutionizing his ability to visualize, diagnose, and manage a wide range of eye conditions.
The post Australian Optometrist First Independent to Receive Cylite's HP-OCT appeared first on Insight.
Keep Those New Registrations Off-line, says Ahpra
Complaints and feedback can be confronting, but a new checklist may help the process. Image: Fizkes.
Ahpra is advising optometrists – newly minted and experienced – to take care with both their identities and their reputations.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) is warning new optometry graduates to not post their registration certificates online.
- It says identity theft is rife and it is seeing websites pop up every day selling fake Ahpra certificates of registration based on real ones that graduating practitioners have posted on their social media.
- "You've worked hard to earn your registration; don't let somebody steal it," the agency said.
That might not be a concern for more experienced practitioners, but in a separate initiative, the regulator is urging them to take care with feedback and complaints.
When these are managed well, they can result in improvements that increase patient, client, and community confidence in the practitioner, Ahpra stated. It can also prevent a concern escalating to an external complaint body or regulator.
Poor or inadequate responses can also undermine personal and industry reputations.
To help improve the process, Ahpra, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, and the 15 National Boards have developed a checklist to help resolve feedback or complaints made to practitioners.
It may also be relevant to those who have a role in establishing and maintaining complaints systems and processes at a health service.
The checklist, along with other resources covering a range of topics to support the practice, is available on Ahpra's Resources page.
The post Keep Those New Registrations Off-line, says Ahpra appeared first on Insight.