After reading this string of messages I think it is incumbent upon me to respond to some of the inaccuracies.

1) The leasing model is a "partnership". In any partnership the profits are split. In the case of the Optos lease, the money that is sent to Optos on a monthly basis covers install, training, service, software upgrades, R&D etc. The money that the practice keeps is profit. Since there is no up-front costs, it only appears as though the cost is high. The truth is that for no money down, most practices earn roughly $3,000 to $4,000 per month of incremental revenue.

2) Practices can charge the patient any price. The average is about $40.

3) The software needed to view the optomap images is free and can be downloaded from the Optos website www.optos.com

4) If you are having difficutlies getting good images, you should contact the company and they will send out a clinical rep to work with your staff. This does not cost you anything. If it is determined that it is not the staff but something in the system, Optos will send out a technician to address the problem. If you are putting up with bad images you have only yourself to blame.

5) If you have captured images that you want to archive, you can store them on a hard drive, DVD or remote storage. You most definitely do not lose them.

6) Optomap IS NOT a replacement for BIO and dilation. It is designed to be an adjunct. It is great for documenting the periphery, seeing through cataractous lenses, cloudy vitreous, small pupils, children, and many other important purposes that are not addressed by other technology. Many thought leaders in the OD community have the system and would recommend it to suitable practices.