$1.5 million granted to build Ophthalmic Imaging Center

Ann Arbor, MI-Ophthalmic photography will soon get work space in Ann Arbor that matches the size a University of Michigan (UM) team has achieved. The Harry A. and Margaret D. Townsley Foundation awarded a grant of $1.5 million to help UM build a state-of-the-art Ophthalmic Imaging Center in the new Kellogg Eye Center.

Opening in 2010 equipped with six camera rooms, a photo studio, a waiting area, and a larger work space, the center will represent a milestone in ophthalmic technology. Richard Hackel, chief of the UM ophthalmic photography program will be credited as the person whose digital images helped transform the diagnosis of eye disease.

A computerized photo of the eye can let physicians know whether patients benefit from certain treatments. Avoiding unnecessary treatments can save upwards of $2,000.

"More important than saving money,[ophthalmic photography] reduces the need for re-treatment and helps people avoid potential risks," said David Zacks, MD, a retinal specialist and assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at UM. "They also improve outcomes by initiating treatment earlier."