How are flashes and floaters detected?
The ophthalmoscope is frequently used to examine both the central and peripheral retina which will detect the presence of floaters and or flashes. The slit-lamp, combining a microscope with a strong illumination, is often used with a hand held lens, allowing portions of the retina to be seen in greater detail. Some patients are given an intravenous injection of fluorescein dye in a procedure called “fluorescein angiography”. The dye which takes only moments to reach the eye, makes tiny blood vessels visible, enabling photographs to be taken for later study.
