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| Just thought this was entertaining |
For both of these tests, there is a tedious and time-consuming process of inputting patient info into the machine and then uploading the results to the electronic management system (EMS). If the Special Testing Guy is busy (whether its me or someone taking my place), I will usually not upload the results, because the other technicians in the clinic can do it from their laptops too. Most of my time is spent running the tests.
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| Not this kind of test but close enough :) |
The photos are really cool. I have the patient sit in front of a big grey machine with a lens sticking out the front. I walk them through the process by telling them each step I am doing and encouraging them along the way. In the photo machine, there is a green X or a green cross (depending on how bad the patient's vision is) and I advise them to look at it. This allows me to take pictures of the part of the back of the eye that I wanted, so either the nerve or the macula. The optic nerve looks like a big grey circle in the eye with a spider-web array of blood vessels branching from it. The macula is a darkened spot that contains all the rods and cones and is responsible for our vision that is directly in front of the eye (the main object a person is looking at). Once I have my pretty pictures, I send them off to the EMS, which is also called iMedicWare.
The OCT is a bundle of fun, a cornucopia of scans if you will. It has three main types of scans, retina, nerve fiber, and pachymetry. The scans are pretty self explanatory. The retina scan scans the retina to look for macular degeneration, an irreversible process where one's vision is lost from the middle outwards towards the periphery (the opposite of Glaucoma). The nerve fiber scan scans the nerve and measures how deep the nerve is in the eye and things of that nature. The pachymetry is a scan of the cornea, and it is my favorite scan even though it is not part of my study :(.
| Mostly what I see but only in black and white |
Thanks for reading! See you next week!
Hey Brent! Interesting post here! It's really cool how you were able to take these photos of peoples' eyes. I was wondering do you actually take the OCT scans or just analyze them? Is there any special training for taking such scans? Also I was wondering where you are with your research? Can't wait to read more!
ReplyDeleteI take the scans and the doctors analyze them. I needed to be informally trained how to use the machines but nothing too crazy. My research is good! I am currently fixing my average pre-operation IOP values because I did it wrong the first time.
DeleteHi Brent!
ReplyDeleteSuper cool that you have an official title at the office now. How is your research and data analysis coming along? Looking forward to reading your next post!
My research is good! I am currently fixing my average pre-operation IOP values because I did it wrong the first time.
Deletehello brent! wow it's really interesting how you can run the tests being still a high school student. i don't have too many questions for you today, as you were able to explain the different types in understandable depths, but i was wondering how has running the tests allow you to find further questions on the glaucoma? thanks!
ReplyDeleteI don't really have any more questions on glaucoma. I just get to see what the nerve actually looks like through the scans.
DeleteHi Brent! The photos of the eyes of the people were really cool. Sounds like you are enjoying your job. i'm looking forward to next week's post! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading!
DeleteHello Brent! That title is cool and makes you unique and doing work and experiments on real life patients must be fun and interesting. I was wondering if you only test patients with Glaucoma or anyone that comes into the office? I am excited to see your final results.
ReplyDeleteI test anyone who the doctors need me to test. They have to call for it and then I do it.
DeleteHi Brent!!! The images you attached of the retina are super interesting. It's nice that all the work you've done so far has gotten you an official title in the office. Can't wait for next week!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading!
DeleteHi, Brent! Are there different types of photos you can take? I know I've gotten photos taken of my eye and there seems to be varying amount of coverage that come with different cameras (I think??). How far is the range for you? Have a nice week!
ReplyDeleteWe usually only take photos of the macula or optic nerve. But thats pretty much all the important stuff in the back of the eye.
DeleteHello Brent! I'm still loving the gifs you post along with all your results from the week! Is there any large difference between the complexity of each scan, or are they all relatively the same length in terms of time? I can't wait to read more in next week's post.
ReplyDeleteThey all look almost exactly the same and take the exact same amount of time. It is kinda scary actually how similar they are.
DeleteHi Brent! It's really cool that you get to take these OCT images. For the past year, I have been going to a retinal specialist and getting these OCTs, as well as getting the pressure of my eye taken. Glad you are learning so much!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! Maybe I could be of some help some day :) thanks for reading!
DeleteHey Brent! Im glad you are able to interact with patients, especially with the OCT scans. What are you looking for in the scans? Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteI do not interpret the scans. The doctors do all that. I just make sure the scan is of good quality.
DeleteI'm glad you're happy there! How's your research going? Are these scans helping you?
ReplyDeleteMy research is good! I am currently fixing my average pre-operation IOP values because I did it wrong the first time. The scans don't really help with the study, but they are fun to do.
DeleteHi Brent! It's so cool that you get to run all these interesting tests! I may just be acting like a dumb dumb right now, but how exactly do you plan on incorporating these scans as part of your study?
ReplyDeleteI won't. They don't really give me any useful info in regards to the study, because it is fairly specific.
DeleteHey Brent! I think your office title sounds pretty cool. It's nice that you were able to get an official title after all your work. I don't have any questions this week but can't wait for your next post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading!
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