A slit lamp is a microscope with a bright light used during an eye exam. It gives your ophthalmologist a closer look at the different structures at the front of the eye and inside the eye. It’s a key tool in determining the health of your eyes and detecting eye disease.
Doctors use the slit lamp as part of a complete eye exam to get a better look at the structures within a person’s eyes. These include the following:
- Conjunctiva: The conjunctiva is a thin, clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye. It also includes the membranous surface of the inner eyelids.
- Cornea: The cornea is the transparent covering of the iris and pupil. It protects the eye and also helps to send light through the pupil to the retina at the back of the eye.
- Eyelids: The eyelids help to protect the eyeball from debris or injury. Blinking helps to lubricate the eye and prevent it from drying out.
- Iris: The iris is the colored part of the eye. It controls the amount of light going into the eye by constricting and dilating the pupil.
- Pupil: The pupil is the black dot in the middle of the eye. It allows light to enter the eye and travel to the retina.
- Lens: The lens sits behind the iris and focuses the light onto the retina.
- Sclera: The sclera is the white part of the eye. It consists of relatively tough fibrous tissue that helps to provide structure and protection for the rest of the eye.
- Retina: The retina is the eye tissue containing the cells that sense light. These cells link to nerves that eventually join to form the optic nerve.
After an initial look at the eyes, the doctor may apply a special dye called fluorescein to them to make the exam easier. They will administer this as an eye drop or on a small, thin paper strip that touches the white of the eye.
The doctor will then administer a series of eye drops that will dilate the pupils. The dilation will make it easier for the doctor to see the other structures in the eye. It takes about 20 minutes for the drops to work.
Once the individual has dilated pupils, the doctor will repeat the eye exam. This time they will hold a particular lens close to the eye.
The procedure does not hurt, although there may be some brief stinging during the application of the eye drops.
Dilated pupils become very large, which can make the eyes sensitive to light. This can make driving or spending time outside uncomfortable. However, the eye drops should wear off within a couple of hours, and wearing sunglasses should help during this period.
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