The eye drops may make it hard for you to focus your eyes for several hours. You should arrange to have someone else 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 medications
• Are taking any medications
• Have glaucoma or a family history of glaucoma

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 ophthalmoscopy, so the sensation of seeing after-images may be greater.

Pressure on the eye during indirect ophthalmoscopy 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.

Ophthalmoscopy 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.

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

Images

Eye

Lateral eye anatomy

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Review Date: 02/10/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Unviersity of Washington School of Medicine; and Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)