Screening
Screening
Examination of ocular fundus
The examination of the ocular fundus (back of the eye) is one of the most important diagnostic procedures. Many eye conditions can be detected via this examination – and at an early stage. Thus, serious conditions can be treated early, which significantly increases the chance of recovery. The ophthalmologist checks the optic disc, the retina, the macula and the vitreous body.
How is the ocular fundus examined?
There are two methods for examining the ocular fundus.
One method is conducted with a so-called ophthalmoscope or special magnifying lenses. It is completely painless. Often, eye drops are administered to enlarge the pupil. The ophthalmologist thus has an unrestricted view of the area to be examined. These can also cause significant dazzling in normal daylight, so you should not drive following the examination.
A further method in the examination of the ocular fundus is contact lens examination. Here, an enlarged view of all areas of the retina is achieved using a slit lamp. For this purpose, the eyes are numbed using drops and a contact lens is placed on the eye. This facilitates the detection of early-stage glaucoma, for example.