Third Eye® Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is an examination of your large intestine (colon) and is the gold standard in colorectal cancer screening. During a standard colon cancer screening, there are folds in the inner lining that a traditional colonoscope sometimes cannot see. Studies have shown that 10-15% of polyps and a significant number of cancers can be missed during colonoscopy, in part due to folds in the colon wall. Today, there is a revolutionary Third Eye® Colonoscopy that can not only see behind the folds of the colon, but can detect up to 40% more polyps than the traditional procedure in high risk patients.

A leader in colon cancer prevention, The Colonoscopy Center of Excellence is one of the few facilities offering the state-of-the-art Third Eye Colonoscopy procedure. To learn more about this innovative and exciting procedure, please visit the Third Eye Colonoscopy website!

How Does the Third Eye® Colonoscopy Work?

During a standard colon cancer screening, a physician advances a colonoscope to the end of the colon and sees only the colon lining that is directly in front of the colonoscope camera. During a Third Eye colonoscopy, the physician has an additional small camera, the Third Eye® Retroscope device, on the colonoscope that looks backwards, providing an additional retrograde (“backward”) view of the colon lining during the procedure. This allows our gastroenterologists to simultaneously see the colon in the forward (anterograde) and backward (retrograde) views during the procedure, thus increasing the likelihood of detecting and removing colon colyps. If your doctor sees a polyp, it can be painlessly removed through the colonoscope tube.

If you and your physician decide to use a Third Eye, your examination will be performed in the usual manner. The only exception being that the Third Eye Retroscope device will be used during the procedure.

What to Expect Before the Procedure

Just like a standard colon cancer screening, you will receive a detailed list of instructions from your doctor prior to the procedure. To prepare for the exam, you will need to empty or flush out the bowel so your doctor can see the lining of the colon clearly. Preparation for your colonoscopy may include the following:

• Clear liquid diet the day before
• No eating or drinking for several hours prior to the exam
• Laxative in pill or liquid form as prescribed by your physician.

During the Procedure

In most cases, the procedure is performed using sedation, which means that you will be asleep during a Third Eye® colonoscopy. As a result, there should be no discomfort felt during the procedure. The procedure is performed as an outpatient (same-day) procedure at our facility at La Peer Health Systems in Beverly Hills.

After the Procedure

After the exam, you will be observed in the recovery area and your doctor will speak to you about the findings of the procedure. Be sure to arrange to have someone drive you home. Most patients can go back to their normal daily activities the next day. Your doctor will give you a complete list of instructions before you go home.

Who Can Have This Advanced Procedure?

All patients who can have a colon cancer screening are also candidates for a Third Eye colonoscopy. We might especially recommend it for patients that are at higher risk for colorectal cancer, including:

• Patients with a personal history of colorectal cancer
• Patients who had a previous removal of polyps
• Patients with a family history of colorectal cancer
• Patients who wish to be extra safe in their screening

All of these patients are good candidates for Third Eye colonoscopy.

Schedule Your Colon Cancer Screening Today!

If you are age 50 or older, or if you are at risk for colon cancer, talk to one of our physicians about a Third Eye Retroscope-enhanced colonoscopy at the Colonoscopy Center of Excellence. You can call our Los Angeles office at (888) 837-0459 or fill out our online contact form and a member of our staff will contact you shortly.

Next, learn about diagnostic colonoscopies.