Ophthalmoscope

oph·thal·mo·scope   (ŏf-thāl'mə-skōp', ŏp-)    n.  An instrument for examining the interior structures of the eye, especially the retina, consisting essentially of a mirror that reflects light into the eye and a central hole through which the eye is examined. oph·thal'mo·scop'ic (-skŏp'ĭk), oph·thal'mo·scop'i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj., oph'thal·mos'co·py (ŏf'thāl-mŏs'kə-pē, ŏp'-) n.

Main Entry: oph·thal·mo·scope
Pronunciation: äf-'thal-m&-"skOp
Function: noun
: an instrument for viewing the interior of theeye consisting of a concave mirror with a hole in the center through which the observer examines the eye, a source of light that is reflected into the eye by the mirror, and lenses in the mirror whichcan be rotated into the opening in the mirror to neutralize the refracting power of the eye being examined and thus make the image of the fundus clear —oph·thal·mo·scop·ic /-"thal-m&-'skäp-ik/ adjective —oph·thal·mo·scop·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb

ophthalmoscope oph·thal·mo·scope (ŏf-thāl'mə-skōp', ŏp-)
n.
An instrument for examining the interior structures of the eye, especially the retina, consisting essentially of a mirror that reflects light into the eye and a central hole through which the eye is examined.

ophthalmoscope

instrument for inspecting the interior of the eye, invented in 1850 by the German physiologist Hermann von Helmholtz. The ophthalmoscope became a model for later forms of endoscopy. The device consists of a strong light that can be directed into the eye by a small mirror or prism. The light reflects off the retina and back through a small hole in the ophthalmoscope, through which the examiner sees a nonstereoscopic magnified image of the structures at the back of the eye, including the optic disk, retina, retinal blood vessels, macula, and choroid. The ophthalmoscope is particularly useful as a screening tool for various ocular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy.

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