Slit Lamp Examination

The slit lamp is an instrument used to examine the health of the front portion of the eye. It is called a slit lamp because it uses a slit beam of light to help visualize the ocular structures in a magnified cross sectional view.

You are required to place your chin on the chin rest of the slit lamp machine while the doctor examines your eyes through the oculus of the slit lamp. The front portion of the eye i.e. the lids, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior segment of the eye is visualized in detail. A high powered convex lens is then used to visualize the retina and the optic nerve head.

Eye diseases like corneal ulcers, cataract, infections, diabetic retinopathy, optic nerve thinning, etc can be detected on the slit lamp.