Slitlamp Examination
Slitlamp examination is an extremely important part of the eye examination and is usually
performed at each visit. The slitlamp is a type of magnifying glass or microscope that is used to examine the living eye. It is also known as a biomicroscope. During the slitlamp test, you are asked to place your head on a chinrest, and a magnified view of the eye is examined. The light beam that illuminates the eye is a thin slit, which gives your doctor a good view. Slitlamp
examination is rapid and easily performed (Figure 4). The slitlamp is used to diagnose many eye diseases. Since many of the structures of the eye (such as the lens and cornea) are normally clear, the inside of the eye can be seen quite well.
Slitlamp examination assists your eye doctor in determining the type of your glaucoma. We now know that there may be over 50 different types of glaucoma, each of which has a characteristic
treatment. For example, small white flecks on the lens of the eye may be indicative of a type of glaucoma known as pseudoexfoliation (Figure 4b): a common condition in Scandinavian and
Mediterranean countries. Your doctor may also be able to detect inflammation within the eye as a cause of your high eye pressure.
