§ Dilated
eye exam
eye exam
The best diagnosis for diabetic
retinopathy is a dilated eye exam. For this exam, drops are placed into the
eyes which will dilate the pupils to allow the doctor a better view of the
inside of the eye. The drops may cause close vision to blur until they wear off
several hours later.
retinopathy is a dilated eye exam. For this exam, drops are placed into the
eyes which will dilate the pupils to allow the doctor a better view of the
inside of the eye. The drops may cause close vision to blur until they wear off
several hours later.
During the exam, the eye doctor checks
for:
for:
§ Abnormal blood vessels
§ Swelling, blood or fatty deposits in
the eye
the eye
§ Growth of new blood vessels and scarred
tissue
tissue
§ Bleeding in the vitreous
§ Retinal detachment
§ Abnormalities in the optic nerve.
The eye doctor may also:
§ Test vision of the patient
§ Measure the eye pressure for glaucoma
§ Look for evidence of cataracts.
Two other methods of diagnosis that
exist are:
exist are:
· Fluorescein
angiography
angiography
With a dilated eye, the doctor takes
pictures of the interior of the eyes, he injects a special dye into the arm and
take more pictures as the dye circulates through the eyes. The images will help
the doctor to pinpoint blood vessels that are closed, broken down or leaking.
pictures of the interior of the eyes, he injects a special dye into the arm and
take more pictures as the dye circulates through the eyes. The images will help
the doctor to pinpoint blood vessels that are closed, broken down or leaking.
· Optical
coherence tomography
coherence tomography
This imaging test provides cross
sectional images of the retina that shows the thickness of the retina, which
will help determine whether fluid has leaked into retinal tissue. Later,
optical coherence tomography exams can be used to monitor how treatment is
working. (Mayo Clinic 2016)
sectional images of the retina that shows the thickness of the retina, which
will help determine whether fluid has leaked into retinal tissue. Later,
optical coherence tomography exams can be used to monitor how treatment is
working. (Mayo Clinic 2016)
