When it comes to eye care, a routine vision exam is about much more than updating a glasses prescription. At Vista Eye Associates, advanced diagnostic technology plays a key role in giving patients in the Keller-Fort Worth area comprehensive results so they can monitor vision changes and identify eye issues early.

To explain the various tests and technologies at Vista Eye Associates, Community Impact spoke with Dr. Bhavesh Patel, the practice's primary provider, about the clinic's technological investments and how they can help patients of all ages preserve their vision.

Why is technology an important part of modern eye care?

Patel: We invest heavily in technology so we can provide the highest level of care to patients when it comes to eye care. Eye exams are more than just receiving glasses or contact lenses; it's really about preserving the health of their eyes and making sure that we identify diseases at the earliest stage possible.

Three retinal scans of the same eye showing blood vessels, optic disc, and fluorescein angiography imaging.

This technology, and the information it provides us, has helped us diagnose and treat conditions at earlier stages, preserving vision for countless patients whose disease we likely would not have caught otherwise — patients whose outcome could have been completely different, and life-altering, without it.

I think utilizing technology is important, and, as doctors, utilizing our skill set and our knowledge is the other part of that puzzle.

What advanced technologies does Vista Eye Associates use?

Patel: The practice has invested heavily in a variety of diagnostic tools designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of eye health. These include:

  • Digital retinal imaging: A device that takes a wide-angle picture of the retina, helping detect tears, holes or bleeding from conditions like diabetes, as well as more severe conditions such as choroidal melanomas — cancers of the eye. It does a great job of assessing the health of the internal part of the eye.

  • Corneal topography: Our corneal topographer checks the surface of patients' eyes and maps out the hills and valleys of the cornea to look for irregularities that may be causing trouble with the patient's quality of vision, as well as other corneal conditions or diseases like keratoconus, a condition where the cornea thins out and bulges like a cone.

  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT): This is an instrument that works like a pseudo-MRI — it looks at the retina in 3D and can dissect down to a single layer, which enables us to identify retinal pathologies like macular degeneration.

Medmont corneal topography map showing color-coded curvature with red central bowtie pattern indicating astigmatism.

What technologies are used to detect glaucoma and other diseases?

Patel: Routine eye exams can identify if eye pressure is at an unsafe level, and early detection is key in diagnosing things like glaucoma. The way we measure pressure isn't the old puff-of-air test; it's a different instrument altogether that does it much more gently and softly.

Vista Eye Associates' in-depth color vision test can also help identify early signs of conditions like macular degeneration and glaucoma. It is also helpful in detecting changes in retinal health for patients who are taking high-risk medications that can damage the macula.

We also use virtual visual field testing, a virtual reality instrument that maps out patients' field of view and can identify diseases such as glaucoma and neurological conditions. It can also help assess vision loss in stroke patients.

How does Vista Eye Associates use technology to treat dry eye disease?

Patel: Vista Eye Associates offers intense pulsed light, or IPL, therapy and radiofrequency treatments for patients experiencing severe dry eye symptoms.

Side-by-side infrared imaging of eyelid meibomian glands from an eye examination software interface.

We can also use a meibographer that images the meibomian glands, which secrete part of patients' tears. That instrument really helps us diagnose dry eye disease as well.

How can Vista Eye Associates help monitor children's eye health?

Patel: We have an instrument that measures the length of the eye, which has been useful for children, especially because we're noticing that children's eyes are growing faster than in previous generations.

As children's eyes grow, they become more myopic, and myopia — or nearsightedness — has reached what public health organizations, including the World Health Organization, describe as epidemic levels. As children become more myopic, they face increased risk of retinal detachment, myopic degeneration (a ballooning of the back surface of the eye) and glaucoma.

What should patients know before scheduling an eye exam?

Patel: Everybody should be receiving some form of eye care annually, if not more often. Having technology aid in your eye care can really help identify diseases at their earliest stages and help preserve the quality of vision — and quality of life.

We go through all of the testing that we do with patients one-on-one and review all the results together, so they get to see firsthand what we're seeing. It really helps educate them and invest them in the care of their eyes as well.

Ready to schedule an exam?

As eye care technology continues to evolve, Vista Eye Associates remains committed to investing in tools that support earlier detection, more accurate diagnoses and better long-term outcomes for patients.

Individuals can learn more about the practice and schedule an appointment here:

Frequently asked questions

What makes Vista Eye Associates different from a typical eye care practice?

Vista Eye Associates invests in advanced diagnostic technology that allows doctors to evaluate eye health in greater detail. These tools help identify conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal disease earlier, often before patients notice symptoms.

How often should I schedule a comprehensive eye exam?

Dr. Patel recommends that everyone receive routine eye care annually, and some patients may benefit from more frequent visits depending on their age, medical history or risk factors. Regular exams can help detect vision-threatening conditions before they progress.

Can advanced eye imaging detect health problems beyond vision changes?

Yes. Technologies such as digital retinal imaging and OCT scans can reveal signs of eye diseases, diabetes-related changes and other conditions affecting the retina. These detailed images help doctors monitor eye health and make more informed treatment recommendations.

Who can benefit from the technology offered at Vista Eye Associates?

Patients of all ages can benefit, from children needing myopia monitoring to adults at risk for glaucoma, macular degeneration or dry eye disease. Advanced testing provides valuable information that helps doctors deliver personalized care throughout every stage of life.