Category Archives: Technology

Amazon Fire a New Generation e-Reader is it the iPad Killer

Posted on October 2, 2011 by | 2 Comments

I’m really excited to try out Amazon’s newest tablet computer the Amazon Fire. I love my Kindle Keyboard however it is not yet the perfect e-reader. In looking at the new specs for the Amazon Fire this new offering may come pretty close. Amazon has also updated it’s entire e-reader line with three other e-readers at much lower price points. The Kindle, the Kindle Touch and the Kindle Touch 3G all of which have no keyboard. The Kindle Fire incorporates a multi touch screen like the iPad, however it is the same overall size as the Kindle Keyboard , albeit slightly thicker with a color screen.

I dont’ really see the Kindle Fire as an iPad2 competitor. This model is really more of a Barnes and Noble Nook killer. The Fire will allow users to access basically everything Amazon has to offer in their store plus Android Apps, streaming music and movies, email and the Web. I do see Amazon coming out with a version that will directly compete with Apple’s iPad, possibly by Christmas 2012. In order to compete with the iPad, Amazon will have to add a few more capabilities such as 3G connectivity, front and rear facing cameras, more internal storage and a microphone. Some people don’t like the size of the iPad and adding those capabilities in both the 7″ and 10″ inch screen sizes will be a great combination.

Not everyone wants an iPad to read books on, frankly I find the iPad much to heavy and large to easily read a book. It would be nice however to be able  to read magazines in color and to easily visit a link in a blog or PDF, the Amazon Fire will allow us to do this very well.

So as soon as I get my hands on an Amazon Fire in November I’ll give a more complete review along with how it may or may not help patients with low vision. The Amazon Fire and the other new Kindle’s will ship on November 15. You can pre-order yours here.

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Posted in Technology, Tips

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Scanning Laser Technology Available for Patients With Glaucoma & Macular Degeneration

Posted on November 26, 2010 by | 3 Comments

New technology now available at Total Eye Care allows us to scan a patient’s retina for glaucoma and macular degeneration, and the best part ….. it does it  WITHOUT DILATION! This new instrument is called the Zeiss Cirrus OCT and it is truly state of the art.

The Zeiss OCT uses infra-red light from a scanning laser to make a very high resolution, 3D image of the inside of your eye, much like that of an MRI. We can now identify retinal objects as small as 4 microns. So how small is 4 microns? A single sheet of 20 lb copy paper is 100 microns thick. This new technology allows us to detect glaucoma and macular degeneration much earlier as well as allowing us to detect and track subtle retinal changes.

Who is a candidate for this new technology? Anyone with a family or personal history of glaucoma, glaucoma suspect or macular degeneration should take advantage of this technology.

Call the Colleyville office at 817.416.0333 and let Rona or Kelsey know that you would like to take advantage of the new scanning laser technology right away.

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Posted in Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Optic Nerve, Retina, Technology

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Back to School Means Eye Exam Time for Children and Families

Posted on August 2, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Total Eye Care and Optos partner in using scanning laser technology for children’s back to school eye exams.

COLLEYVILLE, TEXAS – August 1, 2010 – In conjunction with Back to School time, Dr. Richard Driscoll and Dr. Alycia Green, eye doctors at Total Eye Care in Keller and Colleyville, are working with Optos to launch a program aimed at educating parents about the importance of regular eye examinations for children. It is estimated that 80 percent of what children learn during their first 12 years is related to sight, yet unfortunately 86 percent of children in the U.S. start school without first having a comprehensive eye exam.  Read more…..

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Posted in children, examinations, press release, Technology

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Pilot Study* Indicates Targeted Ophthalmoscopy With the Optomap® Retinal Exam Increases Ocular Disease Detection

Posted on February 18, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Results from a pilot study conducted by doctors at the New England College of Optometry were recently presented at Optometry’s Meeting and the American Academy of Optometry.  In the study, subjects were examined using the methods of traditional ophthalmoscopy and optomap® assisted ophthalmoscopy, where an ultra-widefield retinal image from the Optos P200C guides the BIO fundus examination.

Forty subjects underwent non-mydriatic imaging with the P200C. Subjects were then dilated and underwent traditional ophthalmoscopy and optomap® assisted ophthalmoscopy. The traditional exam consisted of BIO and slit lamp biomicrosopy with precorneal lenses. optomap® assisted ophthalmoscopy was identical to traditional, with the exception that the doctor reviewed optomap® Images before performing their BIO examination. A masked Reader graded the optomap® Images of all subjects. A retinal specialist examined 28 of the 40 subjects and served as the gold standard. Continue reading →

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Posted in Optic Nerve, Retina, Technology

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Good Video about the Optomap Technology from WFAA TV

Posted on January 11, 2010 by | Leave a comment

WFAA TV in Dallas produced a good video on the optomap® Retinal Exam technology.  WordPress won’t allow it to be embedded here, however I’ve added it to the  optomap® page on the Total Eye Care Website.  An  optomap® video from the TV show The Doctors can also be found there.

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Posted in Retina, Technology, video

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