Comments on: Different Types of Eye Exams //www.readers.com/blog Mon, 18 Apr 2016 03:43:00 +0000 hourly 1 //wordpress.org/?v=4.8.3 By: Getting Tired //www.readers.com/blog/eye-health/eye-exam-types/#comment-70 Sat, 23 Jan 2016 00:25:00 +0000 //www.readers.com/blog/?page_id=2577#comment-70 What you are describing is scleral depression, done to delineate between odd-looking areas of peripheral retina and a real retinal hole or break, which must be treated promptly with laser photocoagulation-to prevent a retinal detachment. Having practiced for 27 years, I can tell you that doing an exam with gloves on is much harder, and you can’t feel through the glove very well so you might push too hard.

This technique is the best way to examine the retina after a vitreous detachment since risk of retinal detachment rises dramatically after the vitreous detaches. While hand-washing between patients is a good idea, our hands don’t come in contact with anything besides the skin, which exists to keep bacteria and viruses out. The facial skin is typically covered with bacteria. the scleral depressor probably wiped some off your eyelids-an added bonus.

Getting a followup retina exam is very recommended. Once the vitreous detaches, it can take up to 8 weeks for retina tears to happen. If you just go home and only act if your vision gets blurred, you might have suffered what we call a macula-off retinal detachment, which can be fixed but your vision will be permanently ruined. Go to the followup and be proactive.

They say scleral depression is only a little uncomfortable. Baloney-it almost always hurts.

]]> By: winfred //www.readers.com/blog/eye-health/eye-exam-types/#comment-69 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 23:33:00 +0000 //www.readers.com/blog/?page_id=2577#comment-69 Hi! I had an eye exam after detached
vitreous. They dilated me and did a slit light exam. After that
they inserted a metal probe between my eye ball and my eye socket yet
not under my eyelid but by simply inserting the probe from the
outside of the skin and pressing hard enough the probe and my skin
tissue are depressed between my eyeball and socket, like that, in
order to depress my eyeball so they could see in a difficult area I
think behind my iris. It was a very painful exam. I did not
complain. They want me back and appt in a few days. I have a large
floater but no detached retina and all looked good. My eyes hurt for
about 2 days. I took tylenol. I never complained and two Drs. did
the same probe exam in a row, one was a teacher and the other a
student Dr. The student Dr never washed his hands and also the metal
probe he carries around in his lab coat and it’s not sterile. Also
the second teaching Dr. borrowed the probe from the student to do the
same painful exam. I don’t want to complain but in a way I wonder if
this is all very invasive depressing the eyeball when they say all
looked good etc. What do you think, should I cancel my appt and just
keep vigilant for flashers and any “veils” of gray signs of
detachment and avoid that painful exam? The department nurse said
today not to cancel so I’m keeping the appt in only a few days. Also what is the name for this type of exam using such a probe so I can have an effective keyword to research this further.
Thanks for your attention.

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