Direct ophthalmoscopy

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Uses, Technical problems, Alternative techniques, Time required, Requirements, Materials required, Preparation, Procedure, Aftercare, Immediate Aftercare, Sequelae, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Ralph Hamor DVM MS DipACVO

Introduction

  • To assess eye and discover any abnormalities within it.

Uses

  • Assessment of ocular health or disease.
  • Part of the assessment of sight Neurological examination.
  • Assessment of hereditary ocular defects, eg progressive retinal atrophy Retina: central progressive retinal atrophy (CPRA).
  • Examination for ocular signs of systemic disease.

Advantages

  • Cheap, portable instrument.
  • Gives an upright, highly magnified image, x10-15.

Disadvantages

  • Gives a very narrow field of view.
  • Ocular opacity limits view.

Preparation

  • 20 min for mydriatics to take effect.

Requirements

Materials required

Minimum equipment

  • Direct ophthalmoscope with large diameter beam and a magazine of interchangeable lenses.

Ideal equipment

  • A range of beam types including a small diameter beam, a slit-beam, a graticule for mapping retinal lesions, red-free light for retinal blood vessels and cobalt blue light for fluorescein.

Minimum consumables

  • 1% solution of tropicamide for mydriasis.

Other requirements

  • A room capable of being darkened.

Sequelae

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Gross ocular opacity makes technique impossible.

Sources

Publications

  • Recent references from PubMed.

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