Slit Lamp
It’s like not performing a rectal exam for a patient with dark, tarry stool; for the love…if you have a slit lamp, use it - Nicole McCoin

image by: BOOM
HWN Suggests
Just Use the Slit Lamp
One is an unwieldy, medieval torture device. The other is a magnifying glass attached to a purple flashlight. In a busy Emergency Department, adapting to space requirements and patient flow needs, which one are you going to reach for?
Unfortunately – and rather obviously – the easy option is not equally effective...
Take a few minutes to re-familiarize yourself with the dials and widgets on your slit lamp – and use it.
Featured
Sharpen Your Slit Lamp Technique
Refine your skills and master the tricks this instrument offers to help examine patients more thoroughly.
Articles of Interest
EMin5: Slit Lamp Anatomy
These aren’t the easiest machines to work, and each one is a little different. But if you take a moment to find each of these controls before you walk into your next eye exam, you’ll get a great exam!
Back to Basics: Slit Lamp 101
Do you avoid the slit lamp at all costs because it intimidates you? Start getting comfortable with the components of the Weiss SL 120 Slit Lamp in this guide.
Back to Basics: The Slit Lamp Exam
Last week, we covered the components of the slit lamp. This week, we're reviewing how to perform the slit lamp exam.
Basics in Slit Lamp Examination
If you want a more detailed explanation and video, this is an amazing video put together by Dr. Kapasia and Dr. Ali-Ridha
How to use the slit lamp: 7 key skills to learn
The slit lamp is the core instrument of ophthalmology, and you want to be able to quickly master its use in the first month of your residency. We’ve collected the most high yield tips to get you examining like a pro. These are the hard things that all beginners struggle with.
The Slit Lamp Made Simple
The slit lamp is a straightforward and user-friendly machine designed to make ocular exams easy. All the buttons, knobs, and lights, however, can be intimidating. This should not dissuade practitioners from getting cozy, driving the joystick, and evaluating ocular issues.
Time to Take an Ax to the Wood’s Lamp?
The overall sensitivity of the Wood’s lamp, compared to the gold standard slit lamp, to establish the diagnosis of common corneal and conjunctival abnormalities was found to be an abysmal 52%.
Resources
EyeWiki
The risks associated with slit lamp examination are minimal. Patients with eye pain or photosensitivity may not tolerate the exam well, in which case efficiency and low light facilitate the examination.

