Possible to Diagnose with Only Fundus Photos?
JUN 05, 2015
Question:
Is it possible to diagnose retinal diseases just by looking at fundus photos?
Answer:
Yes, it is possible to diagnose many retinal diseases by examining good quality retinal fundus photographs. In fact, this methodology is being used increasingly in a telemedicine format to screen for conditions like diabetic eye disease. If one is interested in whether or not a patient has a specified condition, it can be determined if fundus photos are a sufficient diagnostic tool. The ophthalmologist evaluating the fundus photograph may recommend further evaluation with a dilated eye exam if he or she feels the abnormal finding is not clear or depth perception is needed to further identify it. At this point, however, retinal photos cannot be used exclusively to diagnose all retinal conditions.