Ophthalmic Photography & Topography

Ophthalmic slit lamp photography and retinal fundus photography are highly specialised forms of medical imaging dedicated to the study and treatment of ocular disorders. At the Kings Cross eye clinic in London (Islington, N1), we take retinal fundus photographs routinely as part of the standard eye examination and for diabetic retinal screening. Slit lamp photography and corneal topography are performed to monitor changes in the front of the eye following injury or surgery and when fitting specialist contact lenses.

Slitlamp Biomicrography

Slitlamp Biomicrography involves photography of the structures of the eye with a specially designed horizontally mounted microscope. Illumination is provided from a beam of light which can be adjusted from a very broad pattern to a very narrow slit. This enables accurate assessments of the depth of ocular structures as well as their surfaces. The magnification of the microscope can also be varied greatly. Low magnification images can be taken of the external eye and surrounding structures and on the highest magnification it is possible to see individual cells.

This photo slitlamp makes it possible to isolate pathology of the cornea, iris and lens and to document and track progression over time.

Fundus Photography

In medicine, the term fundus is used to describe the inner lining of a hollow organ. The ocular fundus is the inner lining of the eye made up of the retinal layers and underlying choroid.

The retina is the "film" of the eye - capturing images which pass through the clear structures of the cornea and lens. It is the only place in the body where nerve fibres and blood vessels can easily be seen making retinal images invaluable in monitoring the progression of systemic conditions such as diabetes as well as to catalogue ocular health.

Corneal Topography

The corneal topographer produces a colour map illustrating the shape of the front surface of the eye. Each colour represents the degree of curvature at a specific point. Red corresponds with the steepest areas and blue with the flattest.

Topographical information is necessary to monitor the change in corneal shape from various types of eye surgery and assists greatly in fitting complex contact lenses.