Eye tests
One of most important aspects about being an Ophthalmologist (and one of the most satisfying) is the ability to see into the eye and look directly at its various structures in order to make a diagnosis.We do this using equipment called a slit lamp.
There are parts of the eye that remain hidden , such as the deeper layers of the retina. These layers can now be seen by cutting edge technologies . This makes diagnosing eye conditions more accurate . It also allows us to pinpoint more precisely where a retinal problem is located.
Ophthalmologists use Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) to look closely at the layers of the retina. This is a simple scan which can be done in the clinic and will take about 5 minutes. It gives us detailed information about the health of different layers of the eye and can point to the diagnosis or tell us how treatment is working.
We also use fluorescein angiography to look at the retina and blood vessels passing through the retina. This is especially useful in diagnosing conditions like macular degeneration or uveitis.
Chest X Rays and MRI
In the routine work up of uveitis a chest X ray is very helpful to ensure there is no sign of an inflammatory condition or previous exposure to tuberculosis.
A MRI is useful test in diagnosing and monitoring neurophthalmic conditions.