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Ophthalmoscopy
About this test
Ophthalmoscopy is a test that allows a doctor to see inside the back of the eye (called the fundus) and other structures using a magnifying instrument (ophthalmoscope) and a light source. It is done as part of an eye exam and may be done as part of a routine physical exam.
The fundus contains a lining of nerve cells (the
retina), which detects images seen by the clear, outer
covering of the eye (cornea). The
fundus also contains blood vessels and the
optic nerve. See a picture of the
structures of the eye 
.
There are two types of ophthalmoscopy.
- Direct ophthalmoscopy. Your doctor uses an instrument about the size of a small flashlight with several lenses that can magnify up to about 15 times.
- Indirect ophthalmoscopy. Your doctor wears a light attached to a headband and uses a small handheld lens. Indirect ophthalmoscopy provides a wider view of the inside of the eye and allows a better view of the fundus even if the lens is clouded by cataracts.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: June 18, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology | |
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