iris dilating optics (vs "drops")

Hello all--I'm new to this group, but something that's been bugging me
for literally years, came up anew in the past few days talking with
some friends.

About 20 years ago in Albuquerque NM, I happened to pick an
optometrist out of the phone book to get a renewed prescription and
glasses, etc. He turned out to be a rather old German guy, who
certainly seemed highly proficient. When it came time to dilate my
eyes for glaucoma and a laser damage exam (I work in R&D with lasers),
he told me he was going to use a set of optics mounted in his basic
"turreted" optometry machine (I apologize for not knowing the name of
that device--) that would dilate my pupils for a few minutes, long
enough for him to do the exam. "No drops and 2-3 hours of being blind
after I leave?", I asked; nope, none of that, the
optical/physiological effect simply fades away within a few minutes!
And indeed, they worked like a charm. I was struck enough at the time
by how very cool this was, that I asked him about them; he said they
were from Europe and he didn't see their use much here in the US.

Ever since that exam a long time back, I've queried my various
optometrists and opthamologists over the years, and every single one
has never heard of such a thing, and they typically look at me like
I'm making it up! But I swear this guy used this excellent technique.
Does anyone here have any knowledge of this technique for pupil
dilation "sans drops"? Thanks--
C. Hale, Lafayette, CO

 

I am not aware of such a thing. Doubtful that it exists as you describe it.
I bet he was avoiding using the drops and was simply using a "super pupil"
type fundoscopic lens that enables one to see the posterior pole (albeit not
much of it) without dilation. I frequently use such a lens for quick and
dirty fundoscopic evalution.

There is a time to do this and a time to open up the eye with drops for a
careful exam of the periphery.

=======

 

I agree with RM. There are condensing lenses for use in conjunction with a
slit lamp for use in examining the fundus without dilating the pupil. I
keep one in my clinic coat pocket. The magnification can be increased at
the slit lamp to obtain a more detailed view of the posterior pole.
However, the field of view is, in my opinion, not as great as with a
dilated exam and using a binocular indirect.

DrG

 

I am curious as to the optics of such lenses. What are the focal lengths
(powers) and where are they placed with respect to the patient's eye and the
examiner's eye?

Bill

 

66 to 98 diopters. 10-30mm in front of cornea. Viewed 6X to 40X.

--LB

 

Repeating Rifle put fingers to keyboard and typed...

http://volk.com/classic/cmain.htm
http://volk.com/superseries/ssmain.htm

 

I bet the op is referring to the old hruby lens that used to be
attached to the slit lamp because I don't think the volk lens
was around 20 yrs ago.

frank

 

I'll bet your right!

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