Retinal Photography

Retinal, or fundus, photography is used to document the health of the eye and sometimes diagnoses certain eye conditions. The high powered lenses of the retina camera focus on the structures of the back of the eye allowing the optometrist to take pictures of the optic nerve, macular, retina and its blood vessels.

Before the photos are taken, it is sometimes necessary to dilate the patient's pupils with drops. This prevents the pupils automatically constricting from the bright light of the camera flash. The patient then places their chin on a chin rest and, as the photographer takes the photos, the patient will see a series of flashes. The whole test takes approximately 5-10 minutes.

The retinal photographs give a detailed picture of the health of the eye and are used for comparison and documentation. Sometimes they are forwarded to the patient's ophthalmologist to diagnose and treat eye diseases.

It is advisable when having eye drops for retinal photography to arrange for a friend or relative to drive you home as the eye drops take a few hours to wear off.