core eye care - core shopping centre
Our Technology
Here is the equipment we use during your eye exam to check your vision and catch changes in your eye health early.
The Equipment We Use
Every piece of equipment we use is chosen for one reason: it gives us and you a clear, honest picture of your eye health. We don’t run tests you don’t need. We use the right tool for what we’re checking. Here is what each one does, in plain language.
1. Optomap Retinal Camera (Optos California)
An optomap image is part of every adult eye exam, senior eye exam and as an optional add on for children’s eye exam.
What it helps us do:
- Lets us check the retina for early signs of eye disease
- Shows a wider area than a standard retinal photo
- Gives us an image to compare against at future visits
2. OCT Scan (ZEISS Cirrus 500)
Our OCT works a bit like an ultrasound, but it uses light instead of sound. It scans the layers beneath the surface of your retina and optic nerve.
What it helps us do:
- Helps us diagnose and monitor eye disease over time
- Can show changes before you notice any symptoms
- Non-invasive
3. Tono-Vera Tonometer (Reichert Tono-Vera)
A tonometer measures the pressure inside your eye, one of the ways we check for glaucoma. We have three tonometers, and we use the Tono-Vera or the Goldmann for glaucoma testing.
It’s a small handheld device that lightly touches the front of your eye with a single-use probe. It doesn’t need numbing drops and doesn’t use an air puff.
What it helps us do:
- Checks your eye pressure as part of glaucoma testing
- Measures pressure without numbing drops or an air puff
- Lets us track changes in your eye pressure over time
4. Goldmann Tonometer
The Goldmann is our second tonometer, and one of the two we use for glaucoma testing. It’s attached to the slit lamp, the microscope your doctor uses to look at the front of your eye.
After a numbing drop and a small amount of dye, a small probe gently touches the front of your eye to measure the pressure.
What it helps us do:
- Checks your eye pressure as part of glaucoma testing
- Lets us track changes in your eye pressure over time
5. Non-Contact Tonometer (Topcon CT-80)
The CT-80 is our third tonometer. It measures your eye pressure with a gentle puff of air, so nothing touches your eye.
What it helps us do:
- Measures your eye pressure without anything touching your eye
- Lets us track changes in your eye pressure over time
6. RetinaLogik Visual Field Test
A visual field test maps your side (peripheral) vision. You look straight ahead and respond when you see small lights appear. We have two visual field tests.
RetinaLogik: a virtual reality headset that runs the test.
OCULUS Easyfield: a compact viewer with an enclosed design, so the room does not need to be darkened for the test.
What it helps us do:
- Checks for changes in your side vision
- Supports glaucoma assessment and monitoring
- Gives us a baseline to compare against at future visits
7. Oculus easyfield
- Checks for changes in your side vision
- Supports glaucoma assessment and monitoring
- Runs the test without darkening the room
8. Digital Lens Tester (Topcon CV-5000)
This is the instrument you look through when we ask, “Which is clearer, one or two?” It changes lenses electronically, so we can fine-tune your prescription.
What it helps us do:
- Helps us find the lens power that gives you the clearest vision
- Lets us show you the difference between your old and new prescription
9. Auto Kerato-Refractometer (Topcon KR-800)
While you look into this machine, it measures how your eyes focus light and the curve of your cornea, the clear front surface of your eye.
What it helps us do:
- Gives us a starting point for your glasses or contact lens prescription
- Measures astigmatism as well as nearsightedness and farsightedness
- Measures corneal curve, which we use when fitting contact lenses
10. Lensmeter (Topcon CL-300)
This is the instrument you look through when we ask, “Which is clearer, one or two?” It changes lenses electronically, so we can fine-tune your prescription.
What it helps us do:
- Helps us find the lens power that gives you the clearest vision
- Lets us show you the difference between your old and new prescription
11. Slit Lamp (Topcon SL-D2)
The slit lamp is a microscope with an adjustable beam of light. It lets your doctor look closely at the front of your eye, including the clear front surface (the cornea) and the lens.
What it helps us do:
- Checks the health of the surface of your eye
- Lets us look at the lens for changes
- Helps us assess signs of dry eye and how contact lenses sit on your eye
Why We Keep Investing in Equipment
Eye care technology keeps getting better at spotting changes earlier, sometimes before you notice any symptoms. Dr. Du follows those advances closely and updates our equipment when a new tool gives our patients a clearer, earlier picture of their eye health. We don’t buy equipment for its own sake, only when it makes a real difference to your care.
Come Visit Us and Book an Exam
Curious what any of this looks like in person? Come see it for yourself. Core Eye Care is easy to reach on a break from work, an errand downtown, or a drive in from across Calgary and the surrounding area.
Driving in? The underground lot gives you 1 hour of free parking, or 3 hours free after 3:00 p.m. Taking transit? The CTrain connects right to the mall. The Our Location page has full directions.
Whether you’re due for an eye exam or want to talk to us about dry eye, book an appointment with Dr. Du or Dr. Hassam today.