Eye examination is an important means to evaluate eye health and visual function, covering a number of examination items, mainly divided intobasic checkandSpecial inspectionTwo major categories. Basic examinations include vision tests, intraocular pressure measurements, slit lamp examinations, etc., to screen for common eye diseases; special examinations, such as fundus photography, visual field examination, corneal topography, etc., provide in-depth diagnosis of diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and refractive errors. The selection of inspection items must be based on the patient's symptoms and doctor's recommendations, with clear priorities to ensure comprehensiveness and pertinence.

The first step in an eye exam is usuallyvision test, evaluate the patient's naked or corrected vision through an eye chart, and initially determine whether there is myopia, farsightedness or astigmatism. Subsequently,Intraocular pressure measurementScreens for glaucoma risk whileSlit lamp examinationCan observe subtle lesions of cornea, iris, lens and other structures. For example, a slit lamp can detect corneal ulcers or early cataracts. These basic items are the core of eye examinations, are short-term, non-invasive, and suitable for routine physical examinations.

If abnormalities are found in the basic examination, further procedures are required.Special inspection. For example,fundus photographyRecording the status of the retina and optic nerve through high-definition imaging has important diagnostic value for diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration;visual field examinationIt evaluates peripheral vision loss and is often used for follow-up of glaucoma patients. In addition,OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography)It can scan the retina in layers and accurately detect macular holes or edema. These technologies require professional equipment, such as instruments from Zeiss, Topcon and other brands.

Some special inspections such ascorneal topographyandtear secretion test, respectively for pre-refractive surgery evaluation and dry eye disease diagnosis. Corneal topographers (such as OCULUS Pentacam) can reconstruct the shape of the cornea in three dimensions, while tear secretion tests measure tear volume through test strips. The following table lists common inspection items and their uses:

Eye examinations need to be customized according to individual needs, such as refractive screening for children and cataracts and glaucoma for the elderly. Regular examinations can detect lesions early and avoid irreversible visual damage. The examination results should be interpreted by a professional physician and an intervention plan, such as glasses, drugs or surgery, should be developed based on the medical history. Well-known ophthalmology institutions such as Beijing Tongren Hospital and Zhongshan Eye Center provide standardized examination services with advanced equipment and standardized procedures.

Source of citation: "Ophthalmology Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines" of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. For equipment data, please refer to the official website of Zeiss and the 2022 issue of "Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology".