Fundoscopy
It is used to detect and evaluate symptoms of retinal detachment or eye diseases such as glaucoma...
Ophthalmoscopy or Fundoscopy Tests

Fundoscopy is an examination of the back part of the eye (fundus), which includes the retina, optic disc,choroid, and blood vessels. When you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor may wish to examine your eyes or refer you to a specialist clinic. A simple test can look at the small blood vessels in the back of your eye, to check if any damage has been done by high blood pressure.

Looking at the back of the eye reveals whether or not your small blood vessels (caplliaries) have thickened, narrowed or burst. This is the only place where the small blood vessels can be viewed and often any problems here are repeated in the small blood vessels in places that cannot be seen, such as in the kidneys. In fact, many people discover they have high blood pressure because their optician notices the signs during a routine eye test.

How the Test is Performed?

There are different types of Fundoscopy.

Direct Fundoscopy: You will be seated in a darkened room. The health care provider performs this common exam by shining a beam of light through the pupil using an instrument called an ophthalmoscope. An ophthalmoscope is about the size of a flashlight. It has a light and several different tiny lenses that allow the examiner to view the back of the eyeball.
Indirect Fundoscopy: You will either lie or sit in a semi-reclined position. The health care provider holds your eye open while shining a very bright light into the eye using an instrument worn on the head. (The instrument looks like a miner's light.) The health care provider views the back of the eye through a hand-held lens held close to your eye. Some pressure may be applied to the eyeball using a small, blunt probe. You will be asked to look in various directions.
Slit-lamp Fundoscopy: You will sit in a chair with the instrument placed in front of you. You will be asked to rest your chin and forehead on a support to keep your head steady. The health care provider will use the microscope part of the slit lamp and a tiny lens placed close to the front of the eye. The health care provider can see about the same with this technique as with indirect Fundoscopy, but with higher magnification.

The opthalmoscopy examination usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

What do I need to do before an eye test?

Before being having an eye test, it is important to say if you:

Are allergic to any medicines
Are taking any medicines
Have glaucoma or a history of glaucoma.

Because the eye drops can make your vision blurry, you may need someone to drive you home. Also, because your pupils are wider than normal, take sunglasses or tinted lenses to wear after the test. After a few hours the effects will wear off and your eyesight will return to normal.

How to Prepare for the Test?

Indirect Fundoscopy and slit-lamp Fundoscopy are performed after eyedrops are placed to widen (dilate) the pupils. Direct Fundoscopy and slit-lamp Fundoscopy can be performed with or without the pupil dilated.

The eyedrops may make it hard for you to focus your eyes for several hours. You should arrange to have someone drive you after the examination. Wearing sunglasses or tinted lenses will help make your dilated pupils more comfortable.

You should tell the health care provider if you:

Are allergic to any medicines
Are taking any medicines
Have glaucoma or a family history of glaucoma
How the Test Will Feel?

The bright light will be uncomfortable, but the test is not painful.

You may briefly see images after the light shines in your eyes. The light is brighter with indirect Fundoscopy, so the sensation of seeing after-images may be greater. Pressure on the eye during indirect Fundoscopy by may be slightly uncomfortable, but it should not be painful.

If eyedrops are used, they may sting briefly when placed in the eyes. You may also have an unusual taste in your mouth.

Why the Test is Performed?

Fundoscopy is done as part of a routine physical or complete eye examination.

It is used to detect and evaluate symptoms of retinal detachment or eye diseases such as glaucoma.

Fundoscopy may also be done if you have signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, diabetes, or other diseases that affect the blood vessels.

Considerations

Fundoscopy is considered to be 90-95% accurate. It can detect the early stages and effects of many serious diseases.

How is an eye test carried out

The eye test is then carried out by a doctor or ophthalmologist using a handheld machine called an ophthalmoscope. The ophthalmoscope shines a light on the back of your eye, allowing your doctor to examine the blood vessels using magnifying lenses.

Because a bright light is being shined into your eye, you may be temporarily dazzled and may see images of the back of your eye reflecting in your vision. These are known as after-images and are common and completely harmless.

Normal Results

The retina, blood vessels, and the optic disc should appear normal.

What Abnormal Results Mean?

Abnormal results may be seen on Fundoscopy with any of the following conditions:

CMV retinitis
Diabetes
Glaucoma
High blood pressure
Macular degeneration
Melanoma of the eye
Optic nerve problems
Retinal tear or detachment

Because a bright light is being shined into your eye, you may be temporarily dazzled and may see images of the back of your eye reflecting in your vision. These are known as after-images and are common and completely harmless.

Risks

The test itself involves no risk. The dilating eye drops may rarely cause:

An attack of narrow-angle glaucoma
Dizziness
Dryness of the mouth
Flushing
Nausea
Vomiting

Because a bright light is being shined into your eye, you may be temporarily dazzled and may see images of the back of your eye reflecting in your vision. These are known as after-images and are common and completely harmless.

Fundoscopy Machine