Slit Lamp

A slit lamp is an instrument that shines a high-intensity light into your eye to provide your ophthalmologist with a magnified, three-dimensional view of the various parts of your ocular anatomy. Slit lamps are commonly used to examine your:

Cornea
Lens
Iris
Vitreous gel

Your eye doctor can also use special lenses in conjunction with the slit lamp in order to examine deeper structures of your eye, including the optic nerve, retina, and fluid drainage region.

Purpose of a Slit Lamp Exam

Routine slit lamp exams can be very helpful in detecting eye disorders at an early stage so that your ophthalmologist can treat them before serious vision damage occurs. In general, slit lamp exams may be performed:

As part of a routine eye exam
To view structures in the back of the eye, such as the optic nerve or retina
To detect conditions affecting the front of your eye, including corneal infections and injuries, cataracts, conjunctivitis, or iritis
To detect and monitor glaucoma and macular degeneration
To detect the presence of a foreign body in your eye
To detect eye conditions caused by diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes
To monitor complications after an eye injury
To monitor complications such as cataract formation that may occur due to chemotherapy, radiation treatment, or a bone marrow transplant

The Slit Lamp Exam

Glasses or contact lenses must be removed before your eye doctor can perform the examination. Your ophthalmologist will then administer eye drops to dilate your pupils and to numb the surface of your eyes. It is important to inform your eye doctor of any allergies you may have to anesthetic or dilating eye drops before they are administered.

You will rest your chin and forehead on a support so that your head remains in a stable resting position. Your ophthalmologist will touch a thin strip of paper containing a fluorescent dye to the side of your eye in order to stain the tear film on the surface of your eye. This will help in the detection of any problems with your eye.

You may experience sensitivity to light for several hours after the exam due to the dilating drops. You also may have difficulty focusing following your slit lamp exam. Therefore, it is a good idea to arrange for someone to take you home after your test. You should also have a good pair of sunglasses with you to counteract your increased sensitivity to light.

Please contact an eye doctor near you today to schedule a slit lamp exam.