Outstanding Features Of The Indirect Ophthalmoscope

The process of examining the inner eye using ophthalmoscope is known as ophthalmoscopy. There is direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. In the former procedure, the image of the eye is usually produced in an upright image which usually takes up to 15 times the original size. Indirect ophthalmoscope inverts the image to a size between 2 to 5 times its actual size. This procedure is used in the process.

There are different characteristics of the instrument that differentiates between the two types of the procedure. For this reason, each of the procedure has its special type of instrument. The direct instrument is small, about the size of a flashlight with powerful lenses for magnification.

This instrument is commonly used during run-of-the-mill examinations. The indirect funduscope has a headband that projects a light that works in conjunction with a small hand-held lens. The latter supports a broader view of the inner eye structure.

Using the procedure has advantages over its counterpart. It offers a wide field of view that gives a clearer view of fundus of the eye, possible even when the lens covered by cataracts. The field of view increases to thirty degrees using the powerful condensing lenses. This enables peripheral viewing of the retina which is better. The increased field of view also improves retinopathy assessment process.

This instrument provides indirect illumination which enhances the pigmented lens size. The equipment is also best for viewing retina because it has monocular and binocular which facilitate peripheral views. The other advantage is that the binocular ophthalmoscope gives examiner better access to the stereoscopic view which is advantageous due to the 3D view it gives the retinal detachment visualization.

When adopting a binocular ophthalmoscope, the examiner gets access to stereoscopic view. This allows determination of retinal detachment, should it be present, through three dimensions, and produces advanced stereoscopic images that are brightly lit. The full assembly is portable. Whilst being used, the lens is held away from the body of the practitioner and close to the patient's face. This prevents the examiner from invading the patient's personal space, thereby creating a comfort zone for apprehensive patients.

The wider working area between patient and doctor allows for underpowered lenses that enable a larger perspective, whereas the direct method requires that the doctor and client co-operate. The binocular method minimizes such a requirement. Of value is that this process can be adopted to see the retina to its full extremity, thereby allowing for an holistic assessment of the eye by the examiner, at which point underlying or obscure problems may come to light.

There are disadvantages of using the indirect ophthalmoscope as well, including the issues inverted horizontal and vertical images, lowered levels of magnification. Also, obtaining a perfect view can take plenty of time and requires patience. No technique is perfect, but some are quite advantageous over closely related ones. Currently, the binoculars procedure is the most preferred kind in the market based of the above advantages.