AUXILIARY LENSES FOR SLIT-LAMP EXAMINATION OF THE RETINA

Course overview

THE SLIT LAMP IS A BIOMICROSCOPE. IT EMITS A BEAM OF LIGHT THAT CAN BE VARIED IN HEIGHT AND WIDTH. IT ALLOWS VISUALIZATION OF THE ANTERIOR SEGMENT OF THE EYE. WITH AUXILIARY LENSES, THE EXAMINER CAN ALSO VIEW THE POSTERIOR SEGMENT. THESE LENSES ARE SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE, AND PORTABLE. ALTHOUGH HIGH-END DEVICES LIKE FUNDUS CAMERAS AND OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY HAVE REVOLUTIONIZED HOW PRACTITIONERS DETECT EYE DISEASES, THEY CAN NEVER REPLACE THESE HANDHELD LENSES. THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC SLIT LAMP LENSES. THE INDICATIONS OF THESE LENSES AND THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS ARE DISCUSSED.