The health of the eye is one of the most important parts of proper medical care. Ophthalmologists all around the world use special instruments that provide accuracy and diagnosis. Here are some of the most important tools:
Refractor
The refractor (also called the phoropter) is used in many cases to measure what kind of prescription glasses or contact lenses someone should have.
Keratometer
This is used to measure the cornea's shape. It measures the curvature of the eye, allowing a professional to determine if cataracts are present. Just a bonus piece of info: notice the similarity of this instrument's name to "keratin." Keratin is found in carrots, among other vegetables, which is great for your cornea.
This handheld instrument inspects the retina. It is vital due to its ability to evaluate the strengths of different prescriptions. The retina is the part of the eye organ that receives the light and processes it. If your retina isn't properly diagnosed, you could be suffering from poor vision without cause.
Topographer
This creates a cornea "map" of sorts. The map can then be used along with the Keratometer to further assess the cornea. The cornea is a key part of proper vision, and thus the topographer is used widely in the eyecare industry.
Slit Lamp Biomicroscope
This piece of equipment is very valuable for its ability to look at the eye's frontal structures to determine if cataracts are growing. If cataracts aren't caught soon enough, they could result in premature blindness.
Chart Projector
This unique piece of ophthalmic equipment shows signs and letters on a screen. The eye patient will then try to read the symbols correctly. Depending on how accurately they can read them, a certain prescription for eyewear will be given by the opthalmologist. This chart is the classic item you have probably seen in a number of television shows, or perhaps personally at the eye doctor or school nurse.
Tonometer
One of the worst eye conditions to suffer from is glaucoma. It obstructs your vision and significantly lowers your quality of life. Luckily, a tonometer can pick up on glaucoma and allow treatment or corrective measures to be taken.
Whether you are a student of ophthalmology or simply interested in your eye health, knowing which instruments are available is valuable. You now know how specific people can be when understanding eye health issues. This means you have more knowledge to treat them.
Share18 December 2015
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