Research Initiative awarded at 3rd Annual Glaucoma Masterclass
Hemel Hempstead, UK – The Heidelberg Engineering Academy Glaucoma Faculty recently held the third annual Glaucoma Masterclass at the City Rooms Hotel, Leicester.
After a warm welcome from the Faculty Co-Chairman, Nick Strouthidis, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Director of the Glaucoma Service at Moorfields Eye Hospital, guests enjoyed an informative keynote lecture from Colm O’Brien, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Dublin, – Optic Disc Cupping: the View from the Lab.
This year’s Masterclass saw the introduction of the Glaucoma Research Initiative; a £10,000 research grant awarded to the institution submitting the most innovative research proposal in the field of glaucoma.
The authors of the top three submissions presented their research proposals. Andrew Tatham, Consultant Eye Surgeon at Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at University of Edinburgh presented a proposal on ‘Portable perimetry using eye tracking and a virtual reality headset’. Arij Daas of Royal London Hospital shared her work on ‘Investigating olfaction function in glaucoma’. Dr. Sabina Sapeta of the Medical University Vienna presented the submission on‘ Aqueous outflow system structures imaging with ultra-high-resolution OCT in glaucoma’.
“Heidelberg Engineering has a rich history of collaboration with clinicians and researchers to develop new clinical applications for imaging technologies,” explained Krysten Williams, Director of Heidelberg Engineering in the UK. “We hope that the introduction of the glaucoma research initiative demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting research that will improve patient care.”
The Medical University Vienna was announced the winner of The Glaucoma Research Initiative for their research project which aimed to employ ultra-high-resolution OCT for imaging of the aqueous outflow system and to perform 3D reconstruction of Schlemm’s canal and evaluation of lumen diameter in glaucoma patients. Dr. Sabina Sapeta and Assistant Professor Rene Werkmeister received the prize on behalf of the University from renowned International Glaucoma Association Professor of Ophthalmology Ted Garway-Heath.
Research Initiative awarded at 3rd Annual Glaucoma Masterclass
Heidelberg Engineering Academy launches Optometric Faculty at 100% Optical
Hemel Hempstead, UK – The Heidelberg Engineering Academy has announced they are setting up a new faculty, made up of likeminded optometric practitioners who are passionate about promoting enhanced clinical services, and developing clinical confidence in a multi-modal imaging approach to improved patient care in the community.
The primary function of the faculty will be to support educational events nationwide to promote enhanced clinical services in the community and raise the standard of multimodal imaging education in optometry. These events will deliver both clinical and commercial expertise, as well as CET accreditation, and will be offered in different educational formats including workshops, lectures and peer discussion.
“Our Ophthalmology Faculty has been very successful and we are excited to now be launching an Optometry Faculty,” explains Christopher Mody, Director of Clinical Services for Heidelberg Engineering . “We are honoured to have Jude Edwards as our Faculty Chair and Professor John Nolan as our guest speaker at the first Optometric Masterclass during 100% Optical 2016.”
The inaugural event will be held during 100% Optical aboard the Sunborn Yacht, next to ExCel London, on Sunday 7th February 2016. This educational networking opportunity will focus on the personal experiences of optometrists who have made a success of OCT in practice, including Jude Edwards, Chair of the Optometric Faculty.
Registration to attend the event will open in the New Year. However, you can register your interest now by emailing Academy-UK@HeidelbergEngineering.com
Heidelberg launch second in series of interactive video tutorials for new Widefield Imaging Module
Widefield Imaging Module
Hemel Hempstead, UK –
The Widefield Imaging interactive video tutorial is an innovative self-education tool that allows clinicians and operators to educate themselves individually and to self-test their knowledge about the use of the new software and lens attachment.
The Widefield Imaging Module provides a 55 degree field of view for all SPECTRALIS fundus imaging modalities including MultiColor, BluePeak, infrared reflectance, angiography, and also OCT.
Covering the macula, the optic nerve head and areas beyond the vessel arcades in a single image, the Widefield Imaging Module facilitates comprehensive diagnostics. The high-resolution, high-contrast scanning laser images captured with this SPECTRALIS module offer diagnostic capabilities superior to conventional fundus photography.
The Glaucoma Module Premium Edition (GMPE) interactive video tutorial, the first in the series, gives insights to new features and diagnosis possibilities of GMPE. Each e-learning module will be automatically installed free of charge by updating the SPECTRALIS software version or can be downloaded here:
Heidelberg Engineering Appoints Sales Manager for the North
Hemel Hempstead, UK – Heidelberg Engineering has appointed Mike Riley as Sales Manager for the North of England adding another 20 years of optical sales experience to the team.
Mike, who most recently worked for Optos, knows the optometric diagnostics market well and is delighted with his new role.
“In my opinion, Heidelberg Engineering sets the standard which everybody aspires to achieve. It is the absolute gold standard in diagnostic imaging. We are working to ensure that OCT is more integral to High Street optometry. It’s moving towards becoming an accepted piece of technology, not just for optometrists at the top end of the market. The upgradeable SPECTRALIS® OCT platform with the Widefield Imaging Module combined with the Connect investment programme enable the independent practitioner to position themselves very well in the competitive landscape and protect their investment at the same time.”
Mike, who is based in Bradford, covers the North Midlands up to the Borders. He joins an established team providing comprehensive business advice, as well as technical and clinical training within the practice setting, and at the Heidelberg Engineering Academy in Hemel Hempstead.
Heidelberg Engineering presents its integrated diagnostic imaging solutions at the AAO Meeting
Heidelberg, Germany – Celebrating its 25th anniversary at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Meeting in Las Vegas, Heidelberg Engineering will present its latest diagnostic imaging technologies and services. For a quarter of a century, the company has been committed to delivering solutions to fundamental clinical needs in ophthalmology.
“Our focus is to offer integrated solutions that encompass state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging devices and image management solutions but also additional services such as patient and clinical education support”, said Dr. Kester Nahen, Managing Director of Heidelberg Engineering. “At the AAO we look forward to discussing with customers how established and new product platforms, IT technologies and services merge to facilitate their clinical decision making.”
Latest SPECTRALIS® modules
Heidelberg Engineering will be showcasing its state-of-the-art modules for the SPECTRALIS® Retina and Glaucoma Imaging Platform including the OCT Angiography Module*, the OCT2 Module with a high scan rate of 85,000 Hz. and the Widefield Imaging Module for simultaneous 55° fundus and OCT imaging.
New Cataract and Refractive Imaging Platform*
A new swept-source OCT-based Cataract and Refractive Imaging Platform* which was unveiled at the recent European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) meeting in Barcelona, will be exhibited for the first time in the United States. It allows comprehensive analyses, such as biometry for IOL calculation, corneal topography and tomography, anterior segment biometry, and anterior segment imaging. Based on an upgradable and modular design, it can be configured to meet the specific needs of the individual clinic.
Image management with HEYEX PACS*
The company’s HEYEX Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS)* allows the seamless integration of large volumes of data and images from Heidelberg Engineering’s and other manufacturers’ devices; thus providing the ability to access, review, and compare ophthalmic diagnostic images in single as well as multi-site settings within one application.
Patient education materials and Ophthalmic Practice App
To support practitioners’ efforts to explain and promote the benefits of OCT examinations, the Heidelberg Engineering Academy will also be launching various patient education materials at the AAO, including flyers, the patient website www.know-the-eye.com and an Ophthalmic Practice App available from the iTunes App Store.
*Currently under development and not for sale yet.
Heidelberg Engineering – AAO 2015 Las Vegas, Sands Expo/Venetian, Level 2, Halls A, B & C, Booth 4215
Bedford sees new era in practice ethos
Hemel Hempstead, UK – The grand opening of optometrist Jude Edwards’ new practice in Bedford was an opportunity to share his excitement with the local community.
HEALTHY U, is designed to be much more than a place for eye examinations and specs, believes Jude, who has been planning his new business for two years.
“Being an independent optometrist I have had free reign to put all my ideas into practice and am looking to change the mould of High Street eye care: clinical excellence linked to education, with plenty of co-operation with other healthcare providers,” he said.
He is investing for the future, with a Heidelberg Engineering SPECTRALIS® to build business around the management and monitoring of patients with chronic conditions.
“The SPECTRALIS fits in well with the modern design of the practice and the way we are aiming to catch conditions early and monitor patients with a family history of glaucoma or AMD. The 4D capability of the SPECTRALIS is wonderful for this. I went on a course at Heidelberg in Hemel Hempstead and instantly fell in love with the technology – it fits in very well with our business.”
Jude is committed to the technology, offering free SPECTRALIS Eye Health Checks throughout the open day, along with lunch and mocktails. Visitors also heard Emily Malbon of Heidelberg Engineering speaking about the benefits of the SPECTRALIS Eye Health Check.
The 2,000 sq foot practice is in the upmarket St Peter Street area and so Jude is optimistic about footfall for the new venture. He won’t be leaving anything to chance, though, as the former Specsavers franchisee has a clear plan of action.
The lounge doubles up as a 20 seat seminar room and Jude will be drawing on his experience as a writer and presenter of many optical lectures to educate patients. No less than nine 40” TV screens around the practice are set to entertain and educate patients at every turn.
“I aim to have the best selection of children’s frames in Bedford, and to make children very welcome with their own seating area, a magnetic puzzle wall, and cartoons on TV. I’ll be running lectures for mums with tots telling them the key milestones for their children’s vision and what to look out for. The seminar room will also be very useful for regular diabetic and AMD talks,” he said.
Jude, who qualified 14 years ago at Anglia Ruskin as an optometrist, is also a qualified nurse, dispensing optician and contact lens practitioner.
Despite several other Bedford practices Jude is not concerned about competition:
“There are 176,000 people living in the town and many more come into the area to work – there are plenty of patients for us all. The fact that we have ample parking just 40 seconds away is another bonus.”
In a Class of its Own
Heidelberg, Germany – A leader in the world of high tech medical devices, Heidelberg Engineering is paving the way for the earlier recognition of eye disease to prevent and delay the most common causes of blindness. Mark Holloway
VN: Why did you decide to invest in OCT?
Mark: We were drawn to the SPECTRALIS as our first practice OCT for its ease of use and the superb imaging quality of the technology. Our motivation was twofold: to better manage patients from a clinical perspective and to increase business revenue.
VN: How has the first year been of introducing a new type of technology?
Mark: It is all about patient education. We have concentrated on ensuring that the patients know that we have this new technology, and we have explained the benefits very well. We have done this via recall letters, the website and by speaking to patients within the practice.
Some patients call and others come in and say, “We hear you have a fancy new gadget: is it suitable for me?”
It is certainly a talking point. Our receptionists are very good and can explain the benefits whenever the opportunity arises. About 20 per cent of our patients are now having OCT scans but we are expecting this to grow. Most are older patients, but others with a family history of disease are receptive to the idea of having a baseline scan to file away for future reference.
VN: Do you invest much in marketing OCT?
Mark: We used the free supply of leaflets provided by Heidelberg Engineering, and have had some more produced for use in the practice and with recall letters. Our website promotes the technology and we have included the video from Heidelberg Engineering, which shows what takes place and the resulting scans.
We placed an article in the local press and have emailed as many patients as possible. We used MailChimp analytics to see how many people opened the email and it was well above the industry standard.
VN: How much are you charging for OCT?
Mark: We have found that when we explain the benefits of OCT, the additional aspect of health checking is very well received. We are charging £35 and most people are happy with that. We have a very diverse patient demographic but there appears to be no correlation between affluence and those who choose to have the scan.
Many of our patients have health insurance and one of the local companies – Westfield Health – will pay for OCT, so patients can frequently claim the cost back depending on how they choose to utilise their allowance.
VN: How does OCT fit into a routine eye examination?
Mark: We allocate a separate 30-minute appointment for OCT; this enables me to take the scan, analyse it and give the patient feedback whilst they are still with me. This means they can normally leave with peace of mind. Occasionally I need to call patients back for further scans but this is unusual.
VN: How easy is it to read the scans – especially at the outset?
Mark: I have attended the Heidelberg Academy training sessions so have learned what to look out for, and the team there are extremely good at supporting us to develop our skills within the practice – especially when we have queries about the images.
VN: Is there an opportunity for hospital work?
Mark: We have no local protocol currently for taking on hospital work but our two nearest major eye departments – the Chesterfield Royal Hospital and the Royal Hallamshire in Sheffield – both use the SPECTRALIS.
When we are referring, we can include copies of the scans and the departments know they can trust the technology. In the future, I would like to think that patients could be discharged from the hospital and we could review them in the community.
VN: What do you feel about OCT a year on?
Mark: The SPECTRALIS is proving to be a great way to differentiate ourselves, and patients respond well to a fairly clear message. Our tagline is, ‘Far more precision than is possible with the human eye’, and that seems to capture people’s attention.
Certainly when we tell patients that we have the latest and most up-to-date technology they tend to go for it. Heidelberg has proved to be very good in terms of customer service, marketing support and training.<br/ >
John Rose
“Amazing” space-age technology
John Rose, an optometrist practice owner in Kingston, Surrey, is also a SPECTRALIS aficionado.
He says: “Every day is so interesting – I can’t believe how lucky I am to use such amazing technology. As professionals we are so fortunate to have access to equipment that tells us so much. The innovation of the SPECTRALIS is incredible and as a manufacturer, Heidelberg takes a long-term view, which I like as a practice owner.”
“The range of normal is so enormous that follow-up is the key to the value of OCT,” continues John. “Following change through eye tracking, and the tremendous attention to detail of the SPECTRALIS, make it a very valuable tool. It is only when you start following up that you realise that Heidelberg Engineering is in a class of its own. If you are interested in clinical care and helping patients to look after their vision in the best possible way, there is only one machine worth having – the SPECTRALIS. I have two in my practice and I like the way they can be updated with each new innovation.”
First Widefield Imaging Module Shipped to Optometrist
Hemel Hempstead, UK – Heidelberg Engineering UK’s first Widefield Imaging Module, which offers a 55 degree fundus image and simultaneous 16.5mm widefield OCT scan, has been shipped to Opticians Awards Practice of the Year winner Alisdair Buchanan.
Just released, the much in demand upgrade facilitates the detection of peripheral pathologies, as Alisdair said –
“One of the great benefits is that with one shot you can see the periphery of the retina, which saves considerable time with each patient. With this one view we are able to diagnose conditions much more easily. We can view the retinal layers and changes well before problems start to occur. To see a 55 degree OCT rather than 30 degrees is amazing, and has brought a fantastic reaction from patients when we explain what we can do now,” said the Kent optometrist.
“After two years in practice, the SPECTRALIS has more than paid for itself. Moreover, it has helped us to position ourselves as one of the best practices in the UK. One of the key factors in buying the SPECTRALIS is that it will never become obsolete. This upgrade is a clear example of it being updated continuously,” he said.
The Widefield Imaging Module provides a 55 degree field of view for all SPECTRALIS fundus imaging modalities including MultiColor, BluePeak, infrared reflectance, angiography, and also OCT.
Covering the macula, the optic nerve head and areas beyond the vessel arcades in a single image, the Widefield Imaging Module facilitates comprehensive diagnostics.
The high-resolution, high-contrast scanning laser images captured with this SPECTRALIS module offer diagnostic capabilities superior to conventional fundus photography.
Strengthening the team
Heidelberg, Germany – Heidelberg Engineering’s commitment to integrate the advanced eye scanning technology used by astronauts on the International Space Station into High Street practices is strengthened with several recent promotions of in-house experts. The Heidelberg Engineering Academy is actively working to ensure seamless integration of the SPECTRALIS technology into a wide range of ophthalmic practices. Interpretation of results, building links with hospital eye departments, financial advice, patient communication and designing the patient journey are all part of the comprehensive offering.
Leading the team is Christopher Mody, recently promoted to director of clinical services, who has more than 30 years’ of retinal imaging experience.
Christopher says: “The Heidelberg Engineering Academy provides access to knowledge and experience built up over 25 years of providing visionary diagnostic solutions. Our customers can draw upon this great wealth of experience via our clinical programme.”
Fresh faces on the team are Phill Ennion and Ken Binns, who have been appointed to the newly created roles of clinical implementation managers, applying their SPECTRALIS experience to the Academy team, as Ken explains:
“The new role will raise the bar on customer satisfaction from the initial site survey through to user training and workflow management. We ensure that there is consistency of care, with the same contact to facilitate all of their requirements.”
Emily Malbon, now promoted to marketing communications manager, is in her third year with Heidelberg’s company and praises the commitment to customer support:
“We have a highly motivated team who take great pride in an excellent product,” she says. “Part of my role is to help our SPECTRALIS owners to promote the technology to their patients and to grow their businesses through the enhancement of clinical services.”
Heidelberg Engineering Gears up for Glaucoma
Heidelberg, Germany –Heidelberg Engineering hits the road with a series of educational events which enable both dispensing opticians and optometrists to learn more about OCT in practice with hands-on operation, interpretation of images and comprehensive glaucoma management.
They provide a fantastic opportunity to learn from professionals and to share knowledge with colleagues – not least at the prestigious International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS) which is to be held in Valencia, Spain, from 16-17 October. A truly unique event, in its 13th year, the ISS is a favourite for international retinal specialists and High Street optometrists alike, whose sole motivation is unparalleled patient care. Find out more online at http://academy.heidelbergengineering.com/ or by calling our Academy team on 01442 502330.
September
24-25 – BARS: Marriott Central, Bristol
30 – OCT in Acute Services Operation and Interpretation: Hemel Hempstead
October
7 – Hands-on Operation of OCT and HEYEX PACS software: Hemel Hempstead
10-11 – NIOS Conference: Galgorm Resort, Ballymena
11-12 – Education Destination: Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury, London
13 – NEOS Autumn Meeting: Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford
16-17 – International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS): Ateneo Mercantil, Valencia, Spain
21 – Structure and function in the evaluation of glaucoma: Hemel Hempstead
November
5-6 – BEAVRS Conference: The Crucible, Sheffield
6 – OCT in the Community: Operation and Interpretation for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians: Hemel Hempstead
6-7 – Ophthalmic Imaging Association Conference: Best Western Moat House, Stoke on Trent
11 – Advanced Imaging Techniques with multicolour: Hemel Hempstead
22-23 – NEG Meeting: Hinckley Island Hotel, Leicester
25 – Inflammatory Eye Disease Study Day: Sheffield Town Hall
25 – Glaucoma Masterclass: The City Rooms, Leicester
26/27 – UKEGS Conference: The Curve, Leicester
29 SCLOSS: Raddison Blu Hotel, Glasgow
