Transcript Slide 1

Eye Examination
Heather Nelson, RN
Inspection of the Eye
• eyebrows---size, extension, and texture of
hair
• eyelids---color, edema, lesions, adequate
muscle control, eyelashes, ability to close
completely and open widely
• sclera---color, vascular pattern, should be
white
Inspection of the Eye
• Cornea---examine for clarity by shining a
light on it. Blood vessels should not be
present.
• Iris---Should be round, regular, and equal
in size. Note color.
• Conjunctiva---usually free of erythema and
exudate. Only inspect upper when foreign
object may be present.
Eyes
• need Snellen eye chart or Rosenbaum
pocket vision card
• need opthalmoscope
• check for color blindness
• check visual acquity---far at 20 feet, near
at 14 inches
Pupils
• size, shape, symmetry
• reaction to light
• accommodation
Visual Fields by Confrontation
• do both eyes together
• wiggle fingers at side of patient’s head
• repeat 2-3 times to test both temporal
fields
• test eyes separately if abnormality is
suspected
Extraocular Muscles
• Have patient watch your
finger as it moves
through the six cardinal
fields of gaze.
• Test for convergence.
• Observe for sustained
nystagmus.
Opthalmoscopic Exam
• Darken room.
• Start at 0 diopters.
• Use plain white
circle of light.
• Ask pt to focus on
spot on wall.
• Find red reflex from
2 feet away.
Caused by light
illuminating the
retina.
• Follow in on 15
degrees.
• Adjust diopters to
focus.
• Look at vascular
supply of the retina.
• Follow blood vessels
to optic disc. Disc
margin should be
sharp and welldefined.
What does 20/20 mean?
• Visual acuity is recorded as a fraction in which
the numerator indicates the distance of the
patient from the chart and the denominator
indicates the distance at which the average eye
can read the line.
• Thus 20/20 means that the patient can read at
20 feet what the average person can read at 20
feet.
• Vision not correctable to better than 20/200 is
considered legal blindness.