Diagnosing raised intracranial pressure through ophthalmoscopic examination
The ophthalmoscope is one of the most useful and underutilised tools and it rewards the practitioner with a wealth of clinical information. Through illumination and a number of lenses for magnification, the direct ophthalmoscope allows the physician to visualise the interior of the eye. Ophthalmoscopic examination is an essential component of the evaluation of patients with a range of medical conditions, including diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension and conditions associated with raised intracranial pressure (ICP). The fundus has exceptional clinical significance because it is the only location where blood vessels can be directly observed as part of a physical examination.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. Levine DN. Spontaneous pulsation of the retinal veins. Microvasc Res 1998; 56: 154-165.
- 2. Levin BE. The clinical significance of spontaneous pulsations of the retinal vein. Arch Neurol 1978; 35: 37-40.
- 3. Wong SH, White RP. The clinical validity of the spontaneous retinal venous pulsation. J Neuroophthalmol 2013; 33: 17-20.
- 4. Harder B, Jonas JB. Frequency of spontaneous pulsations of the central retinal vein. Br J Ophthalmol 2007; 91: 401-402.
- 5. Frisén L. Swelling of the optic nerve head: a staging scheme. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1982; 45: 13-18.
We thank Stephanie Marshall, Orthoptist at Monash Health Ophthalmology Department, for the accompanying video, and Justin O’Day for the image in the , which was previously published in Bruce AS, O’Day J, McKay D, Swann PG. Posterior eye disease and glaucoma A-Z. London: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2008.
No relevant disclosures.