The examination should take place in a suitably darkened room. The patient's right eye should be examined with the examiner's right eye, and vice versa. The patient is asked to focus on an object in the distance, and the examiner's head is kept vertical to permit this.
First use the ophthalmoscope at +12 dioptres - the red numbers of most ophthalmoscopes - and at arm's length with the patient gazing into the distance - starting the examination in this manner prevents reflex pupil contraction which occurs if the patient attempts to accommodate. Rack the ophthalmoscope towards zero.
Sequentially, with racking down, examine the:
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