Importance of a Dilated Eye Exam:
The eye resembles a photographic
camera. There is a system of clear lenses that allow the light to go through and reach the film inside the camera and the
retina inside the eye.
Taking advantage of this, we can examine the ocular fundus, where we can see the macula, peripheral retina, retinal
blood vessels and optic nerve. Therefore we are able to diagnose diseases that affect the macula, such as age related macular
degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, macular puckers and holes. We can diagnose pathologies that affect the peripheral retina
and choroid, such as: retinal detachments, retinal tears, retinitis pigmentosa, choroidal nevus, etc. We can also identify
disease affecting the optic nerve such as glaucoma, optic neuritis and others.
As an interesting fact, the eye represents the
only organ in the human body, where we can directly visualize the blood vessels without any invasive procedure, so it provides
us with indirect signs of the status of the blood vessels in the rest of the body. Multiple systemic diseases that affect
the blood vessels can have retinal vascular manifestations, such as: diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive
retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions that are associated with atherosclerosis, retinal vasculits associated with immunological
diseases, etc.
Therefore, if we identify any of these problems we can refer the patient to the appropriate specialist to treat other
systemic diseases, and contribute to the general health status of our patients.
In summary I have always liked to say:
“ that the eye is the window of the body..” .
Ernesto I. Segal, M.D.
Ophthalmologist.
Specialist in Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery
Eye Associates of Boca Raton
