Unit 6: Differential Diagnosis of Blurred Vision

Clinical Examination

  • Often difficult to exclude retinal detachment with ophthalmoscopy
  • Dilate the pupil with phenylephrine 2.5% and tropicamide 1% eye drops (avoid if there is a history of angle-closure glaucoma)
  • Measure visual acuity (reduced if the macula is detached)
  • Check for an RAPD (present if there is a large retinal detachment)
  • Early retinal detachments and retinal breaks occur in the periphery so look into all quadrants
  • Examine the fellow eye


retina image for inferior retinal detachment

Inferior retinal detachment

Source: www.retinagallery.com

retina image for horseshoe tear far periphery

Horseshoe tear far periphery

Source: www.retinagallery.com

retina image for bullous superior retinal detachment

Bullous superior retinal detachment

Source: www.retinagallery.com