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Alternative names Return to top
FundoscopyDefinition Return to top
Ophthalmoscopy is an examination of the back part of the eyeball (fundus), which includes the retina, optic disc, choroid, and blood vessels.How the test is performed Return to top
Direct ophthalmoscopy: You will be seated in a darkened room. The examiner performs this common examination by projecting a beam of light from an ophthalmoscope, an instrument about the size of a flashlight, through the pupil to view the back of the eyeball.
The magnification obtained by using the direct ophthalmoscope occurs because the eye itself is a simple magnifier. The rotating lenses incorporated in the instrument are used to compensate for the refractive error of the examiner or the patient being examined.
Slit-lamp ophthalmoscopy: You will be seated at the same instrument used in examining the front part of the eye. An additional lens will be held close to the eye to enable the doctor to see the fundus. This has the advantage of a stereoscopic view in addition to the magnification of direct ophthalmoscopy. The view is much wider than that of direct ophthalmoscopy, but not as wide as indirect ophthalmoscopy.
Indirect ophthalmoscopy: You will either lie or sit in a semi-reclining position. The examiner performs this examination by holding the eye open. The examiner wears an instrument on the head resembling a miner's light. While holding the eye open and using a hand-held instrument, the examiner shines a very bright light into the eye. Some pressure may be applied to the eyeball using a small, blunt instrument, and you will be asked to look in various directions.
This examination takes between 5 and 10 minutes. The bright light will be uncomfortable, but the test is not painful. This examination requires more skill and time than the other forms of ophthalmoscopy, but has the advantage of allowing the doctor to see the entire retina.
How to prepare for the test Return to top
Indirect ophthalmoscopy and slit-lamp ophthalmoscopy are performed after eye drops are placed to dilate the pupils. Direct ophthalmoscopy can be performed with or without dilation of the pupil.
The dilating drops may impair focusing of the eyes for several hours. Therefore, arrangements should be made for someone else to drive after the examination. Wearing sunglasses or tinted lenses will make the patient with dilated pupils more comfortable.
You should tell the examiner if you:
How the test will feel Return to top
Direct ophthalmoscopy: As the scope is focused, a clicking sound will be heard. The bright light shone into the eyeball may cause brief after-images to be seen.Why the test is performed Return to top
Ophthalmoscopy is performed as part of a routine physical or complete eye examination to detect and evaluate symptoms of retinal detachment, eye disease such as glaucoma , or if diabetes, hypertension, or other vascular disease is suspected.Normal Values Return to top
The retina, blood vessels, and the optic disc should appear normal to the examiner.What abnormal results mean Return to top
Eye diseases, such as cloudy vitreous, detached retina, optic nerve degeneration or swelling, macular degeneration, and changes caused by glaucoma can be detected. Diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and many systemic diseases can also be detected.What the risks are Return to top
The test itself involves no risk. The dilating eye drops may rarely produce nausea, vomiting, dryness of the mouth, flushing, dizziness, or an attack of narrow-angle glaucoma. If the latter is suspected, drops generally are not used.Special considerations Return to top
Since it can detect the initial stages and early effects of heart and blood vessel disease (particularly high blood pressure), brain disease, diabetes, and specific eye diseases, ophthalmoscopy is one of the most valuable tests. It is considered to be 90-95% accurate. Update Date: 10/27/2003 Updated by: Raymond S. Douglas, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Ophthalmology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |