Like dental appointments, eye tests are something that most adults know they should have regularly. However, those with busy lives often end up having them sporadically or skipping them altogether unless they’ve got a specific complaint.
The trouble is that by then it could be too late. Our eyes are prone to a number of diseases, and given how much we rely on them in everyday life, getting them checked is really not something we should dismiss as unimportant.
One way of checking your eyes is known as ophthalmoscopy. This procedure is often included in regular eye appointments, but it can also be performed on its own. If it has been a while since you last had your eyes checked, here is everything you can expect from an ophthalmoscopy.
What is an ophthalmoscopy?
The long name sounds complicated, and perhaps even scary, but it simply means letting an eye doctor look at the back of your eye for signs of any diseases or damage.
Although they are looking at the back of your eye, there is nothing invasive about the procedure. In fact, they don’t even need to make contact with your eye to do it, other than applying a few eye drops.
Types of ophthalmoscopy
Your eye doctor will perform one of the following three types of ophthalmoscopy. Each takes only around five to ten minutes.
- Direct: The eye doctor will switch the lights off in the room and sit opposite you. They will then use an ophthalmoscope to examine both of your eyes sequentially. This is a device with a light on one side which shines into your eye, and some lenses on the other which the eye doctor looks through. Welch Allyn ophthalmoscopes, as well as those by other brands, are designed to be handheld and are about the size of small flashlights.
- Indirect: Typically you will be lying down for this. The doctor will wear a bright light on their forehead, and then proceed to examine your eye with a lens.
- Slit-lamp examination: Seated upright, you will place your chin and forehead on a device in front of you to keep you steady. Then the process is much the same as before. A light is shone into your eyes while the doctor looks through a lens into them.
In all cases, the eye doctor might ask you to look in different directions and may use their fingers to keep your eyelids out of the way.
These tests are often done during regular visits to an optometrist, as they can be used to screen for concerns. However, there are trained ophthalmologists too. These are specialists who have typically undergone an additional five years of training in eye diseases, and you may be referred to them for a test if your optometrist suspects something is wrong. You might also see one privately if you have symptoms such as loss of vision, eye pain, or inflammation. It is also part of an ophthalmologist’s role to perform any surgery that you may need, as they are a type of eye surgeon.
In conclusion, an ophthalmoscopy is a routine method of screening for eye diseases with no real risks nor much discomfort to worry about.
