Topographer Tomographer Endothelium

Here's a brief guide to the equipment for special tests your eye doctor may perform during an eye exam.

Corneal Topography

This computerized test maps the curve of your cornea. It can show problems with your eye’s surface, like swelling or scarring, or conditions such as astigamtism. You might have it before you have surgery, a cornea transplant, or a contact lens fitting.

Fluorescein Angiogram

This lets the doctor see how well blood moves in your retina. It helps diagnose diabetic retinopathy, retina detachment, and macular degeneration. The doctor will inject a special dye, called fluorescein, into a vein in your arm. It travels quickly to blood vessels inside your eye. Once it gets there, the doctor uses a camera with special filters to highlight the dye. He takes pictures of the dye as it goes though the blood vessels in the back of your eye. This helps him spot circulation problems, swelling, leaking, or abnormal blood vessels.

Retinal Tomography

This computerized test can give a remarkably detailed image of the retina and all of its layers. You might get it if you have a serious retina condition, like age-related macular degeneration or retinal detachment.

Ultrasound

This test uses sound waves to make picture of the inside of your eye. It helps your doctor diagnose and treat tumors, cataracts, or bleeding in your eye. You might also get it before cataract surgery.

Specular Microscopy (Endothelium Cell Count)

Any suspected abnormality of the corneal endothelium such as endothelial dystrophy, Fuchs dystrophy, pseudophakic corneal edema. This test can examine the size, shape and density of the corneal endothelial cells. Serial measurements can be obtained to follow the health of these cells. Specular microscopy topography is a rapid, non-invasive in-office test that that does not require any ocular anesthesia.