Retinal Examination Using A Slit Lamp

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Mr_Costcutter
Mr_Costcutter Posts: 391 Forumite
in Health & beauty MoneySaving
I was wondering whether it is possible to detect a retinal tear without pupil dilation?

Additionally, is pupil size a factor when determining whether a pupil should be dilated?

Many thanks for reading and any replies greatly appreciated.
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  • DomRavioli
    DomRavioli Posts: 3,136 Forumite
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    Mr_Costcutter wrote: »
    I was wondering whether it is possible to detect a retinal tear without pupil dilation?
    Potentially possible, but you would likely have to pay for a specialist private ophthalmologist, if anyone would do it without dilation.

    Additionally, is pupil size a factor when determining whether a pupil should be dilated? They dim the lights, so that really isn't relevant.

    Many thanks for reading and any replies greatly appreciated.

    What's your beef with dilation? Its cheap, simple and effective. If you have a retinal tear you need to seek urgent diagnosis and possible treatment, as you can lose part or all of your sight if not treated (worst case).
  • Mr_Costcutter
    Mr_Costcutter Posts: 391 Forumite
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    DomRavioli wrote: »
    What's your beef with dilation? Its cheap, simple and effective. If you have a retinal tear you need to seek urgent diagnosis and possible treatment, as you can lose part or all of your sight if not treated (worst case).

    Thank you for your reply.

    I don't have any problem with my eyes or the prospect of having them dilated if the need arose. I wasn't asking for medical advice.
  • BucksLady
    BucksLady Posts: 567 Forumite
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    A couple of years ago my mother experienced flashes in her eye and an examination of the retina was made to exclude tears etc. The pupil was dilated and my understanding is that it has to be to see the minute detail necessary. I'm not an optician though - so may be wrong :). It would be interesting to know for sure.
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,305 Forumite
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    Mr_Costcutter wrote: »
    I was wondering whether it is possible to detect a retinal tear without pupil dilation?

    Is that the question you mean to ask? A retinal tear may be detectable without pupil dilation - being confident there is no retinal tear when one is suspected is a different and more exacting matter.
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • fireblade28
    fireblade28 Posts: 147 Forumite
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    I read that as rectal. Then was confused where the pupil was!
  • DomRavioli
    DomRavioli Posts: 3,136 Forumite
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    Mr_Costcutter wrote: »
    Thank you for your reply.

    I don't have any problem with my eyes or the prospect of having them dilated if the need arose. I wasn't asking for medical advice.

    Perhaps next time speak to your optician, or ophthalmologist if you have one, instead of an internet forum. WAB.
  • GlasweJen
    GlasweJen Posts: 7,451 Forumite
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    The answer is "it depends". If you have naturally massive pupils and an experience ophthalmologist then yes, it's easy. If you have tiny pupils or are light sensitive or have a fairly new junior doctor or a doctor who is on call and possibly not a retinal specialist you'll need dilated.

    Where I work anyone with a suspected tear or detachment is dilated before getting near a doctor by one of the nurses. The reason being is we are a teaching hospital so the junior doctors and medical students will likely be invited to look and see if they can see your tear. Then you'll get OCT or medical photographs taken to help plan your treatment and the bright flash in one eye will make the other pupil constrict so it affects the photo quality.

    I imagine if you go private you could ask the doctor to give you drops to speed up the dilating drops coming out your system but in the NHS we would only offer these if the pressure in your eye shot up as a result of the pupils being dilated.
  • BucksLady
    BucksLady Posts: 567 Forumite
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    DomRavioli wrote: »
    Perhaps next time speak to your optician, or ophthalmologist if you have one, instead of an internet forum. WAB.

    Some people (like myself) will have found the OP's general question quite interesting. The fact that GlasweJen was able to provide such an informed answer was a bonus. I'm not sure why you felt the necessity to tell the OP what not to do - if he wishes to post on this forum - why shouldn't he. He wasn't asking for medical advice and so did not breach any forum rules.
  • Mr_Costcutter
    Mr_Costcutter Posts: 391 Forumite
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    GlasweJen - many thanks for taking the time to reply and your clear explanation of matters. I am extremely grateful to you.
  • GlasweJen
    GlasweJen Posts: 7,451 Forumite
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    Mr_Costcutter wrote: »
    GlasweJen - many thanks for taking the time to reply and your clear explanation of matters. I am extremely grateful to you.

    You're welcome.
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