Description
BOTTOM LINE
The HFA-II 720 is the entry-to-the-entry level full threshold visual field model from Zeiss. It looks just like its bigger singings in the 700 series, and does much of the same things as those ones do too. It is, however, missing some things that we find crucial- such as an internal hard drive to store patient information/charts, and software capabilities to track the patient’s gaze/pupil. The 720 acts much like your auto refractor in the sense that it performs a test and spits out the results (via printer) and then shortly forgets about the patient and the test altogether. If you want to store any kind of patient data, it must be transferred onto an inserted floppy disk and then that disk recalled if the operator wishes to see the data represented digitally ever again. Floppy disks are old, difficult to file (based on patient name)– and so that means the printout (then stored in the chart) is the only practical way to evaluate the test data. This may not be the end of the world if you still use paper charts, or perhaps not even a worry if you’re happy to scan each printout into the patient’s digital chart via EHR. The 720 also fails to offer any kind of gaze tracking software mechanism, and so that means the operator of the instrument will need to ensure the patient’s proper gaze and head position, as to not effect the false-negative indicators of the test. Each test can be up to 5 minutes long (per eye) and thus this requires some work on the operator’s end.
OUR TAKE: Buy this if affordability matters more than the inconvenience of only having printed results, and supervising the patient during the entire of each test.
#1. A Legitimate Perimeter
We count nearly 11 newer Zeiss visual field models than the HFA-II 720. Only four of those 11 models have a different design, and actually do legitimate things/tests differently/better than the 720. Yes, that is our opinion- and perhaps an over simplification, however believe it or not nearly every model above the 720 performs the same form of Goldmann-Stimulus full threshold perimetry that the one you’re looking at does. It’s true that more advanced models include software options that track the patient’s gaze, and pupil, and that will convert patient data through your EHR and even track patient’s visits and compare them side-by-side on the printout. But you should ask yourself if all that is actually needed. Take for example a practice that sees 15 patients per day for the purpose of Social Security disability testing. The practice submits paper records of these results to a third party, and performs no further ophthalmic testing. It would appear that the HFA-II 720 would be a great fit, and that anything more advanced may be an unnecessary spend of capital.
#2. 11 Testing Patters
As opposed to the HFA-II 740 (and above), the 720 only has 11 testing patterns. You can view and compare its features to other more advanced instruments below, and you my scroll down for a complete comparison view of the 720’s specifications.
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We include a HP Laserjet 6C Printer with the purchase of the HFA unit. You can add a double top table to your purchase using the variations options prior to checking out.
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It depends on the test, however most full threshold tests on HFA units take anywhere from 3-6 minutes per eye.
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In general, the HFA units are relatively patient friendly however most do not dream of visual field testing. Elderly patients may find it difficult to maintain gaze, however the machine reads and understands this through false-negatives.
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