A photo inside the eye? Let's talk about retinal imaging

Have you ever had your eyes checked and the doctor said, "Let's take a picture of the inside of your eye"? When he said that, you probably felt a little scared, wondering, "How do you take a picture of the inside of your eye? Will it hurt? Why do you do that?" Actually, this is nothing to be afraid of. Today, we're going to talk about a very important test called retinal imaging, or retinal imaging .

Simply put, what is Retinal Imaging?

Retinal Imaging is, simply put, a special technology used to take digital images of the inside, back part of your eye. It's like taking a photo with a camera, but it takes pictures of what's inside your eye.

Now look, our eye is like a small camera. The membrane at the back of it is what we call the retina . It's like the film roll in old cameras. The images of the things we see are formed on this retina. This retina also has a special place called the macula that helps us see very clearly. Also, there are many other important parts inside the back of this eye, such as the optic nerve, which carries information from the eye to the brain.

So, what a retinal imaging test does is take a clear picture of the retina, macula, and optic nerve, and everything in between. Your eye doctor can learn a lot about the health of your eyes by looking at these pictures.

Why is this test being done?

Imagine that you go for an eye checkup every year. Then the doctor takes a picture like this and keeps it in your file. When you go the next year, he takes another picture and compares it with the old one. Then, if there is a small change inside the eye, it can be identified before it becomes a big problem. Also, if you are being treated for an eye disease, these pictures help to see if the treatment is successful and if the condition inside the eye is improving.

What diseases can be identified with retinal imaging?

This is a very useful test because it can detect many serious eye conditions that can damage your eyesight at an early stage. If detected early, there is a much greater chance of treatment and saving your eyesight.

Here are some of the main medical conditions that can be identified with this test:

If these images show any problems, your doctor will recommend exactly what treatment you need.

How is this test done? Does it hurt?

This is the question that many people have. The answer is, it doesn't hurt at all . It's very simple, painless. It doesn't hurt your eyes at all.

There are mainly two ways to take these pictures.

1. Color Fundus Photos: This is the most commonly used method. Fundus is another name for the back of the eye. This involves taking color pictures of the inside of your eye using a special camera. When the pictures are taken, a bright light is visible, like a camera flash. Newer cameras can take very clear, high-resolution pictures. Some cameras can even take a wide-field view of a large area of ​​the inside of the eye. This method is very good for looking at damage to blood vessels caused by diabetes.

2. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): This is a slightly more advanced method. It is like taking a picture of a cross-section of the inside of the eye. It can separate the different layers of the retina and measure their thickness. This OCT test is very helpful in accurately diagnosing conditions such as macular edema and macular degeneration caused by diabetes.

Sometimes, if the doctor wants to take a closer look at the blood vessels inside the eye, he or she may also do another test called Fluorescein Angiography . This involves injecting a special dye into a vein in your arm. When the dye travels with the blood to the vessels inside the eye, it can be clearly seen if there is any blockage or blockage in those vessels.

What happens before and during the test?

Okay, now let's see how you should prepare for this test and what will happen during it.

Before the test

• Usually, before this test, your eyes are dilated with eye drops. Why is this done? The pupil is like a window for a camera to look inside your eye. When it is dilated, it allows for very clear images of the inside of your eye.
• Important: When your pupil is dilated like this, your vision will be slightly blurry for a few hours. And your eyes will be blue when you go outside. Therefore, do not drive on the day of your test. It is best to have someone drive you.

During the test

This entire process takes about 5 to 10 minutes. It's very quick.

1. You will be seated in a chair in front of the testing machine.

2. You will be asked to place your chin and forehead in the designated positions. This is done to keep your head stable without moving.

3. Then the doctor or technician adjusts the camera to your eye and starts taking pictures.

4. You will be asked to look at a small green light. The light is a bit bright, so you may feel a little uncomfortable, but it will only last for a few seconds.

5. Once you have finished taking pictures with one eye, take pictures with the other eye.

6. When the work is done, you will be asked to get up from your chair. That's it!

If you also have a Fluorescein Angiography test, it can take about 30 minutes.

What happens after the test? Are there any risks?

After the test

As we discussed earlier, your vision will be blurry for a few hours due to the dilation of the pupil . Therefore:

• Don't drive.
• Stop doing things that strain your eyes, like reading books, looking at your phone, or looking at the computer.
• If you go out, be sure to wear sunglasses. This will reduce the chance of your eyes becoming blue.

Risk

There are no known risks with standard retinal imaging (fundus photography and OCT) tests. They are 100% safe because they only take a picture with a camera.

However, if you have a Fluorescein Angiography test (injecting a dye into your arm), there may be very minor side effects. But these are not anything to worry about.

• The skin may temporarily turn slightly yellow.
• Urine may be dark yellow or orange (this will completely disappear within 24 hours).
• Very rarely, some people may experience skin rashes and itching as an allergic reaction.
• Dizziness, dry mouth, metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, or vomiting may occur very rarely.

If you have any doubts about any of these things, ask your doctor before having the test.

How do you get the results?

This test produces digital images. Your doctor will carefully examine the images. He or she may show you the images and explain what they show.

These images are stored as part of your medical record. The advantage of this is that when you have this test again in the future, you can compare it with the old images and see very accurately how your eyes have changed over time.

So, the next time your doctor asks you to take a picture of the inside of your eye, don't be afraid. Remember that it's a very important, painless, and quick test to protect the health of your eyes.

Retinal Imaging, retina, eye examination, OCT test, Glaucoma, Diabetes, Macular Degeneration, eye pictures, fundus photography, eye diseases, Sinhala, Sri Lanka