3
Table 3. Ophthalmic Examination
Basic
• Patient history, including an assessment of functional status, pertinent medical
conditions, medications currently used, and other risk factors that can affect the
surgical plan or outcome of surgery (e.g., immunosuppressive conditions, use of
systemic alpha-1 antagonists, diabetes)
• Visual acuity with current correction (the power of the present correction recorded)
at distance and, when appropriate, at near
• Measurement of best-corrected distance visual acuity
• Assessment of the degree of anisometropia after refraction
• Glare testing when indicated
• Assessment of pupillary function
• Examination of ocular alignment and motility
• External examination (eyelids, lashes, lacrimal apparatus, orbit)
• Measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP)
• Slit-lamp biomicroscopy of the anterior segment, examination of the lens, vitreous,
macula, peripheral retina, and optic nerve through a dilated pupil
• Assessment of relevant aspects of the patient's mental and physical status
(i.e., cooperation and ability to lie flat)
• Assessment of any barriers to communication (language or hearing impairment)
Supplemental Testing
• Glare
• Contrast sensitivity
• Ocular wavefront
• Subjective potential acuity; includes potential acuity meter, laser interferometer,
scanning laser ophthalmoscope
• Electrophysiologic
• Specular microscopy and corneal pachymetry
• Corneal contour using topography or tomography
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
• B-scan ultrasonography
• Assessment of tear function (II+, G, S)