Slit-lamp examination

A clinical eye examination that uses a binocular microscope and a narrow, adjustable beam of light to inspect the cornea, iris, lens, and other eye structures.

Slit lamp: An ophthalmic microscope with an adjustable, narrow beam of illumination for examining the eye. Its microscope and controllable beam are the core tools used during the examination.
Corneal ulcer: An open sore in the cornea, often caused by infection or injury. Slit-lamp inspection and fluorescein staining can reveal the defect and its extent.
Cornea: The transparent, curved front surface of the eye that refracts incoming light. Its layers and clarity are central targets of slit-beam inspection.
Hermann von Helmholtz: A German physician and physicist who invented the ophthalmoscope in 1851. His instrument made direct examination of the living eye a practical clinical method.
Fundoscopy: Examination of the interior of the eye, especially the retina and optic disc. It targets posterior structures that a standard anterior examination does not fully show.
Optical section: A thin illuminated cross-section of transparent tissue produced by focusing a narrow beam of light. The beam can show the depth and location of corneal or lens changes.
Cataract: Clouding of the eye’s crystalline lens that can impair vision. The microscope helps identify lens opacity and its location.
Anterior chamber: The fluid-filled space between the cornea and iris. Its depth and contents can be assessed by directing a narrow beam across it.
Allvar Gullstrand: A Swedish ophthalmologist and physicist known for research on the optics of the eye. His optical work helped establish precise instrument-based examination of ocular structures.
Retinoscopy: An objective method for estimating refractive error by observing light reflected from the retina. It measures optical focusing error rather than inspecting anterior anatomy.

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