Retinoscopy is a objective method of evaluating refractive error by neutralizing the light reflected from the retina. It does not depend on the patient's vision or judgment. During retinoscopy, light is shone into the patient's eye from a retinoscope as they look at a distant target. The direction the light travels across the pupil indicates the eye's refractive state - emmetropia shows light traveling infinity, hyperopia beyond infinity, and myopia less than infinity. Retinoscopy can be performed with either a plane mirror retinoscope or a self-illuminated streak retinoscope. The examiner observes the red reflex in the pupil and moves the retinoscope until the reflex is neutralized to determine the

1. RETINOSCOPY
OPTOM FASLU MUHAMMED

2.  It’s a method to evaluate the refractive error of an
eye objectively by utilizing the technique of
neutralization.
 We evaluate the eye as an optical instrument,
ignoring any information the eye transmit to the
brain. Retinoscopy does not depend on the
patient’s vision or judgment.

3. PRINCIPLE
 It is based on the fact that when light is reflected
from mirror in to the eye the direction in which the
light will travel across the pupil will depend up on
the refractive state of the eye.
 Bring pts FP to retinoscope peep hole.
 Emmetropia:infinity
 hyperopia:beyound infinity
 Myopia:less than infinity

4.  The first objective diagnosis of refractive error was
by French Ophthalmologist “F. Cuignut”
 “Father of Retinoscopy”

5.  Jack C. Copeland, the father of Streak
Retinoscope, who developed the Retinoscope and
spent his life teaching its use”

6. EVOLUTION
 Skiascopy
 Dioptroscopy
 Pupilloscopy
 Korescopy
 Umbrascopy
 Scotoscopy

7. A)Reflecting(mirror) retinoscopes:
*Cheap & the most commonly employed
*A source of light is required,which is kept above &
behind the head of the patient.
*The source of light used should be small,bright &
enclosed.
*A mirror retinoscope may consist of a single plane
mirror or a combination of plane and concave
mirrors(Priestley-Smith’s mirror)

8. A B
Mirror retinoscopes: A)Plane mirror; B)Priestley-
smith’s mirror

9. *The central aperture in the mirror should be 3-
4mm in diameter so that a sufficient amount of light
can enter the observer’s eye.

10. B)Self-illuminated retinoscopes:
*Costly but handy
*2 types: (i)a spot retinoscope
(ii)a streak retinoscope
(ii)a.Heine streak retinoscope b.Welch allen streak retinoscope
(i)A spot retinoscope

11. Spot retinoscopes:
*It consists of a bulb with a tiny wired filament
about 1-2 mm in size.

12. Streak retinoscopes:
 In streak retinoscope the illumination is provided by
a special bulb that has a straight filament.
 It is more sensitive than spot retinoscope in detecting
astigmatism.
 It is provided by a special bulb that a straight
filament,thus forming a ‘streak’ in projection.

13. SURFACE ANATOMY

14. PROJECTION SYSTEM

15. PROJECTION SYSTEM

16. OBSERVATION SYSTEM

17. PREREQUISITES FOR RETINOSCOPY
 1. dark room
 2.Trial set
 3.Trial frame
 4.Phoropter/refractor
 5.Distance target
 6.Retinoscope

18. PROCEDURE
 Patient is made to sit at a distance of 1m,67 cm, 50 cm..
from the examiner.
 With the help of a retinoscope, light is thrown onto the
patient’s eye.
 Who is instructed to look at a farpoint (to relax
accommodation).

19.  Through the hole of retinoscope , the examiner observes
a red reflex in the pupillary area of the patient.
 Move the retinoscope in horizontal and vertical meridia.
 Neutralise the reflex

21. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MOVING
RETINAL REFLEX ARE AS FOLLOWS:
 Speed and brilliance.
 Width of reflex.
 In the presence of astigmatism.

23. STATIC VERSUS DYNAMIC RETINOSCOPY
 Static:procedure performed without active use of
accommodation
 Dynamic:with active use of accommodation

24. Thank you