How do you enhance your slit lamp view using vital stains?
Whether you are a Contact Lens Optician, an Optometrist, or an Ophthalmologist, we know how important it is to look at the cornea with our slit lamps. A stalwart piece of the optometric armoury, slit lamps are a valuable instrument and come in various guises. With the advent of dry eye services, extended services, enhanced qualifications and prescribing, etc. we are all taking on more responsibility in viewing the anterior segment.
Vital stains such as Sodium Fluorescein are of course paramount to inspecting the anterior eye for injury or insult; they inform us about the presence and severity of epithelial defects, conjunctival dryness, tear quality, eyelid inflammation, etc. Latterly, the more advanced slit lamps have inbuilt yellow ‘exciter’ filters (typically 13-16% transmission), which enhances ocular surface viewing and will facilitate the detection of more subtle signs for grading, whilst informing and supporting differential diagnosis. One might almost suggest that it is indefensible not to use a yellow filter when viewing the anterior segment with a vital stain and should be considered the ‘gold standard’
If you don’t have a slit lamp with an inbuilt filter, you are likely to reach for a flimsy piece of thin yellow plastic ‘Wratten 20’ in the form of a disposable and handy alternative. If you own one, they are easily scratched and the optical quality is poor and hard to maintain. Flimsy disposable filters are better than nothing if you don’t have a better option to hand, however, you may need to increase the illumination of the Cobalt filter and the duration of exposure that the patient has to tolerate, alongside the yet unknown issues surrounding
prolonged blue light exposure. It also leaves you with one less hand and decontamination/ cross contamination issues when examining patients.
AVS Filter Launches at 100% Optical
Rather than purchasing a costly new slit lamp, or investing up to £1000 in retrofitting your existing microscope with a yellow filter, it is now possible, (courtesy of Aston Vision Sciences), to purchase a new affordable, industry-standardised portable filter which is being launched to the market this month at 100% Optical with partner distributor
Sight and Sound Technology Ltd.
The AVS filter has a durable finish and has been scientifically researched and developed to fit most viewing systems of the major brands of slit lamp. Whether or not you have an inbuilt filter, or are a locum, or room ‘hopping’, this filter now guarantees you the very best quality, optimal fluorescein viewing of the anterior segment. This custom filter allows for more insightful observation due to better contrast of areas of damage such as tear breakup, punctate staining, or corneal abrasions. Developed to mimic closely the optimal wavelength of light to enhance the cobalt blue illumination of the cornea whilst exciting the fluorescein, the AVS filter gives the very best view possible; minimising prolonged blue light exposure and discomfort to the patient.
The AVS fluorescein filter is compatible with many leading slit lamps, including:
• Takagi 4ZL
• Nikon NS-1V
• Keeler Symphony 40H
• Keeler Symphony 3020Z
• Keeler SL-40
• Miltron SL-40Z
• Haag Streit BP900
• CSO SL990-D
• Topcon SL-D7
• SK-MED LS4
Feedback from AIO Chairman Dr Christian French
I have been using the AVS fluorescein filter for some time and I find it an invaluable addition to my standard range of instruments. I use it in almost every eye casualty clinic I work in my hospital role, in addition to assessing and monitoring our corneal patients. In private practice, it is extremely useful in
both contact lens assessments and dry eye consultations. The free filters that we used to use are OK, but staining is so much easier to assess with the AVS filter; in addition to having both hands free to operate the slit lamp. Worth every penny and every clinician using fluorescein on their patients should have one to hand.
Buy the AVS Fluorescein Filter for £49.95 from Sight and Sound. Click here to purchase yours now!