Comprehensive Eye Exam

Abstract

Comprehensive Eye Exam is designed as an introductory guide for senior medical students on ophthalmology clerkships on how to perform a thorough eye examination in a typical outpatient clinic setting. This chapter is split into three sections: ocular vital signs, anterior segment, and posterior segment. Each section covers the most relevant eye examination techniques along with detailed instructions on how each is performed. The ocular vital sign includes the basic metrics from which a patient’s eye health can be evaluated, such as visual acuity, pupillary reflex, intraocular pressure, and visual fields. The anterior segment section covers the use of a slit-lamp to examine the patient’s eyelid, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior chamber, iris, posterior chamber, lens, and anterior vitreous cavity. The posterior segment section focuses on the use of both direct and indirect ophthalmoscopes to assess the health of the optic nerve, choroid, and retina. Students are encouraged to read this guide in its entirety to familiarize themselves with the general concepts of each examination and refer to their preceptors for hands-on clarifications of how each examination is performed.