Orkney optician Graeme Clark has invested in state of the art digital technology to offer his patients the latest in optical health care.

The £30,000 equipment is used to produce high resolution images of the retina - the light sensitive membrane at the back of the eye.

These detailed digital pictures can then help provide an early warning of a range of potential health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and glaucoma - information that can be passed on to the patient's GP.

"It's often said that the eyes are a window on to our general health," said Mr Clark. "The images are stored on computer and allow us to monitor subtle changes when patients return for follow up eye tests."

The investment by Kirkwall-based Clark Optometrists has been supported by Orkney Enterprise, which provided a grant of £7,500.

"It's unusual for a small practice like ours to offer this service," Mr Clark said. "People might think of Orkney as a remote place, but we wanted to make sure that people here have access to the latest in optical technology.

"We're always looking at ways to improve the service we provide - and we're doing that by offering as comprehensive an eye examination as possible.

"Other health problems can be spotted at an early stage in their development during the eye test - this equipment will help us to monitor these potential problems and advise patients if they need to have them checked out by their doctor.

"In the past, taking pictures of the eye was a highly specialised procedure that could only be carried out in hospitals. But advances in digital and computer technology mean that a practice like ours can now offer this service."

Clark Optometrists has achieved Investors in People status and, as part of that process, encouraged reception staff Marnie Burns, Fiona Stevenson and Inga Stewart to qualify as optical assistants.

After a one year correspondence course, all three have been successful in gaining diplomas from Anglia Polytechnic.

They have also been trained to operate the new digital camera and to carry out a range of other tests and procedures.

"That allows me to spend more time with our patients," added Mr Clark, who runs Orkney's only opticians firm as a single-handed practice.

"It also gives them the confidence to deal knowledgeably with patients' inquiries - and hopefully results in a lot more job satisfaction."

Michael Reid, Orkney Enterprise's business development manager, said the Kirkwall-based development agency had been keen to back a business investing in innovative technology to improve the service it provides.

"This high-tech equipment should really benefit people in Orkney who might otherwise have to go away to Aberdeen to get digital images like these taken," he said.

"It allows the firm to offer a new and valuable service which will help in the identification of potential health problems at an early stage. It's a unique project by the only opticians firm in Orkney and we were pleased to offer our support."