C54676: Imaging the periphery

For the ophthalmologist and the optometrist, the requirement to assess the peripheral retina for evidence of pathological change is essential, because conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, retinovascular disease, uveitis and retinal tears often first manifest in the retinal periphery. While examination of the margins of the retina has been available to clinicians since the end of the 19th century, documentation of peripheral retinal change has been challenging and applying diagnostic imaging techniques near impossible. However, recent advances in imaging technology have meant detailed clinical documentation of disease affecting the retinal periphery is now accessible to the clinician as part of a routine assessment strategy.