A fundus camera is a microscope attached to a digital camera used to examine the inner eye and take high-resolution photographs for monitoring and diagnosing degenerative eye disease or trauma. It can reveal diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes and is used to diagnose underlying medical conditions. The camera is sometimes referred to as a retinal camera and is an important tool in diagnosing disease and bleeding before they can cause blindness.
The fundus is the back of the inner eye and is visible through an ophthalmoscope, which is a handheld device with an attached light to examine the retina and other sections of the eye. A fundus camera is actually a microscope attached to a digital camera to examine the inner eye. The device is capable of taking high-resolution photographs for monitoring and diagnosing degenerative eye disease or trauma. The image is usually able to be viewed on a screen in real time during the procedure. An ophthalmologist may choose to examine the eye by way of a dilated fundus exam, which involved administering eye drops to enlarge the pupil for maximum fundus visualization.
When viewing and photographing the fundus and other parts of the eye with a fundus camera, pupil dilation allows the eye doctor to view all the way to the back of the eye. All of this is accomplished without touching the eye itself. Once dilated, doctors are able to check for conditions such as retinal tears, tumors, cataracts, and hemorrhages. Sometimes these tests can reveal other diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes. The eyes are typically sensitive to light after dilation, and the effects can last up to five to six hours.
There are a number of procedures for which the fundus camera can be used. Angiography is where fluorescent dye is injected into blood vessels and the camera records the flow of the dye through the veins into the eye. This procedure is generally used to diagnose any underlying medical conditions. Optical coherence tomography is another microscopic imaging technique that allows the ophthalmologist to take a high-resolution 3D tomogram of detailed structures in the eye. Tomography captures images in slices using penetrating waves.
The fundus camera is actually a low-power microscope and is sometimes referred to as a retinal camera. The eye is one of the few parts of the human body where doctors can witness the flow and circulation of blood in tiny blood vessels. This gives the fundus camera an important role in diagnosing disease and bleeding before they can cause blindness and affect the body in general. The actual light that is used to observe the eye is channeled through multiple lenses. Once the ophthalmologist is ready to take a picture, he presses a button on the device and a mirror inside the fundus camera captures and reflects the light back to the eye itself.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
