Fundus Photography
Fundus Photography
Fundus Photography
a. Choosing a Fundus Camera b. Technique of Fundus Photography c. Field of view in fundus Photography d. Artifacts in fundus photography
Digital fundus photography Vs Film based photography Less expensive, Acceptable resolution, Easy image manipulation and image transfer Faster image processing and duplication.
Getting started Check the eyepiece correction at the beginning of photography. One should see sharp cross hairreticule through eyepiece.
Doughnut effect Look for doughnut effect of sharp image of camera light on the patients closed eyelid and on the cornea.
Focusing Its important to remember that focusing is not achieved by movement of joystick, but by adjusting the focus knob. After obtaining the focus once, one need not refocus the image for the same patient during the photography.
Stereoscopic pair of photographs of macula help in assessing the retinal thickening in macular edema due to three dimensional effect
Manual lateral movement of the camera can be used to obtain the required, non-simultaneous stereo pairs.
Allen1 technique of Stereo fundus photography An Allen stereo separator or manual lateral movement of the camera can be used. First member of the pair photograph is taken as far to one side of the pupil maintaining good illumination and clear image. Then second member of the pair photograph is taken from the other side of pupil. 2mm is the minimum separation between the two photographs of the pair to achieve the stereoscopic effect.
Montage fundus photography is useful in documentation of a widespread lesion such as a tumor or vascular anomalies. 9 photographs of each eye to be taken Photo of each field of eye is captured in a clockwise direction Fundus camera has an inbuilt software application to create montage at the end.
Montage fundus photo of the left eye depicting clearly hemorrhages scattered in all quadrants of fundus
c. Field of view
20 field of view
30 field of view
50 field of view
Right fundus shows blue center and white reflection (arrow-left) peripherally
Blue central reflection can occur when camera is close to the eye / in eyes with poor pupillary dilatation. White / orange crescent at the periphery of image is due to camera misalignment; hence the camera is moved in the opposite direction.
Right fundus shows blurring of image inferiorly with white streaks (arrow) - caused by eyelashes coming in the way of photography due to continuous blinking
Right fundus shows blooming effect of a lesion due to increased intensity of camera flash. This artifact can result in wrong diagnosis of leakage.
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The above artifact is called double exposure (Combination of present image with preexisting image) due to improper functioning of memory device in the fundus camera.
When the photographer tries to focus a myopic fundus the central coating of objective lens can result an image of dark spot (arrow) and may some times block the macular defects. This artifact should be kept in mind while taking photographs of highly myopic eye. Directing the patient to look temporally or superiorly so that the central part of the macula can be captured, can potentially avoid this problem
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Note multiple shiny reflexes (arrows) seen in silicone oil filled eyes
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Suggested Reading
1. Allen L. Ocular fundus photography. Am J Ophthalmol.1964; 57:13-28. 2. C. Delori, C.K. Dorey, G. Staurenghi et al, In vivo fluorescence of the ocular fundus exhibits retinal pigment epithelium lipofuscin characteristics. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995; 36:71829. 3. Ferwerda JG: The World of 3-D: A Practical Guide to Stereo Photography. Nederlandse Vereniging voor Stereofotografie. (1982). 4. Lawrence A. Yannuzzi, Michael D. Ober, Jason S.Ophthalmic fundus imaging: today and beyond.American Journal of Ophthalmology.2004; 137(3): 511-24. 5. R.H. Webb, G.W. Hughes and F.C. Delori, Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Applied Optics. 1987: 26:149299. 6. R.B. Rosen, A.G. Podoleanu, S. Dunne and P. Garcia, Optical Coherence Tomography Ophthalmoscopy. In: T.A. Ciulla, C.D. Regillo and A. Harris, Editors, Retina and optic nerve imaging, Williams and Wilkins, Lippincott (2003). 7. S.Shikano and K. Shimuzu, Atlas of fluorescence fundus angiography. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia (1968).
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Self-test
1. The resolution of digital fundus photography is a. b. c. d. 1000 lines 10,000 lines 100,000 lines 100 lines
2. The resolution of film based fundus photography is a. 1000 lines b. 10,000 lines c. 100,000 lines d. 100 lines 3. The advantages of digital fundus photography in comparison to film based are all except a. Less expensive b. Faster image processing and duplication time c. Possible Irregular lesion size measurement d. Useful patient educational tool e. Better image resolution and stereo viewing 4. Fundus auto fluorescence is a property of stimulated emission of light from a. Melanin b. Lipofuscin c. Xanthophyll d. Beta carotene
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