Ophthalmoscopy

Why It Is Done

Ophthalmoscopy is done to:

• Find problems or diseases of the eye, such as retina problems.
• Help find other conditions or diseases that damage the eye.
• Look for the cause of symptoms, such as headaches.
• Find other problems or diseases, such as head injuries or brain tumors.

This exam is usually done as part of a regular eye exam. Other eye tests that may be done include vision testing and testing for glaucoma.

How To Prepare

In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor tells you to.

How It Is Done

Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has glaucoma. And tell your doctor if you are allergic to any type of eyedrops.

Before doing either type of test, your doctor may use eyedrops to widen (dilate) your pupils. This makes it easier to see the back of the eye. Your doctor may also use eyedrops to numb the surface of your eyes. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to fully dilate the pupils.

Direct ophthalmoscopy

• You will be seated in a darkened room and will be asked to stare straight ahead at some distant spot in the room.
• Looking through the ophthalmoscope, your doctor will move very close to your face and shine a bright light into one of your eyes. Each eye is checked separately.
• Try to hold your eyes steady without blinking.

Indirect ophthalmoscopy

This type of eye exam gives a more complete view of the retina than direct ophthalmoscopy. The exam is usually done by an ophthalmologist.

• You may be asked to sit in a darkened room and to sit upright with your head on a chin rest.
• Your doctor will hold your eye open and shine a very bright light into it. The doctor will look at the eye through a special lens.
• Your doctor may ask you to look in different directions. The doctor may apply pressure to your eyeball through the skin of your eyelids by using a small, blunt tool. The pressure helps bring the edges of your fundus into view.

How long the test takes

A direct or indirect ophthalmoscopy test takes a few minutes.

How It Feels

Direct ophthalmoscopy

During this test, you may hear a clicking sound as the tool is adjusted to focus on different structures in the eye. The light is sometimes very strong, so you may see spots for a short time after the exam. Some people report seeing light spots or branching images. These are really just the outlines of the blood vessels of the retina.

Indirect ophthalmoscopy

With this test, the light is much stronger. It may be slightly painful. Pressure applied to your eyeball with the blunt tool may also hurt a little. After-images are common with this test. If the test is painful, let the doctor know.

When dilating eyedrops are used

Dilating drops may make your eyes sting and cause a medicine taste in your mouth. You'll have trouble focusing your eyes for up to 12 hours. Your distance vision usually isn't affected as much as your near vision. Your eyes may be very sensitive to light.

Risks

In some people, the dilating or numbing eyedrops can cause:

• Nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, flushing, and dizziness for a short time.
• An allergic reaction.
• A sudden increase in pressure inside the eyeball (closed-angle glaucoma).

Results