fundoscopic

Fundoscopy, or fundoscopic examination, is the assessment of the interior surface of the eye, including the retina, optic disc, macula, and posterior pole. It is used to evaluate ocular health and to screen for systemic diseases that affect the eye, such as diabetes and hypertension. The examination can be performed with direct ophthalmoscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, or using a slit-lamp biomicroscope with a condensing lens. Pupil dilation with mydriatic drops often improves visualization but is not always required.

During the procedure, a clinician observes the optic disc for shape, margins, pallor or swelling, and the cup-to-disc ratio; the retinal vessels for caliber, tortuosity, or signs of vasculopathy; and the macula for edema or degeneration. Normal findings include a healthy-appearing optic disc with clear margins, a regular network of retinal vessels, and an unobscured macula. Abnormal findings may include optic disc edema or pallor, retinal hemorrhages, hard exudates, cotton-wool spots, neovascularization, retinal tears, or detachment, all of which can indicate ocular or systemic conditions.

Indications for fundoscopy include routine eye examinations, diabetes and hypertension screening, evaluation of headaches or visual changes, and assessment of suspected optic neuropathies or retinal disorders. The technique requires training and experience; view quality can be limited by small pupils, media opacities (such as cataracts), or patient cooperation. Fundoscopy remains a fundamental, noninvasive tool in clinical ophthalmology and general medicine.