How to Purchase an Ophthalmoscope

Ophthalmoscopes are one of the tools used by medical doctors and practitioners during patient eye exams. They are commonly hand-held devices that can magnify and illuminate the eyes for better diagnosis. Some qualities like extreme impact resistant casing and a wide range of aperture settings can make your job easier and more enjoyable. Other features like halogen lamps can aid a trained viewer to distinguish between veins and arteries of the eyes. Whether you want your ophthalmoscope in your pocket or on your belt, or prefer a wall-mounted version in your exam room, the availability of various ophthalmoscope designs means you can find the instrument that best fits your needs.

Instructions

• 1

  Decide on a portable ophthalmoscope. Portable ophthalmoscope styling ranges from compact pen-scopes to durable heavy metal ones.

• 2

  Choose a wall mounted style ophthalmoscope. These styles offer great capabilities in the clinic or exam room. Wall mounted ophthalmoscopes can be battery charged or charged using the electrical cord.

• 3

  Select a well-known and respected brand of ophthalmoscope such as Welch Allyn. They’ll probably cost a bit more, but if you appreciate fine craftsmanship with the latest technology, this brand proves superior.

• 4

  Find an ophthalmoscope that offers a halogen lamp. These lamps provide long lasting illumination with 30% brighter, whiter light. That means you can better see the true color of tissues during patient eye exams.

• 5

  Look at aperture features offered for the various models of ophthalmoscopes. Some offer 4, 5 or 6 aperture settings.

• 6

  Compare prices of ophthalmoscopes. Some brands of portable ophthalmoscopes range in price from $120, while better brands will cost you around $360. Wall mounted units typically start around $500.

• 7

  Compare the price of replacement parts. Note that some replacement bulbs could cost you around $200 and batteries often cost as high as $50.

• 8

  Choose an integrated system for your diagnostic instruments. A wall-mounted system can provide you with otoscope, ophthalmoscope, specula dispenser, electronic thermometer, manometer and handle-based rheostats all in one neat, easy-to-mount panel.

• 9

  Opt for a head-mounted unit. While this ophthalmoscope will put you back about $1500, it does offer hands-free operation. This style is only available as an indirect ophthalmoscope.

• 10

  Determine if you need an indirect or a direct ophthalmoscope. The direct ophthalmoscope is the preferred instrument for fundus examination, while Indirect ophthalmoscopes provide good resolution of stereoscopic images. These are good for looking at the posterior eye to check for macular edema and retinal neovascularization.