The Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope is used to do what?

• A. Produce cross-sectional optical coherence images
• B. Measure intraocular pressure
• C. Visualize corneal topography
• D. Scan the retina using a laser to produce two-dimensional en face images

Answer: (D)

The Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope images the retina by scanning a focused laser across the fundus and collecting the reflected light to build a two-dimensional en face view of the retinal surface. This gives a flat, surface-level image of the retina, rather than a depth-resolved cross-section. Cross-sectional images are the domain of optical coherence tomography, which uses interferometry to sample different depths. Measuring intraocular pressure is done with tonometry, not retinal scanning. Corneal topography maps the corneal surface curvature, not the retina. So the essential idea is that the Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope uses a laser to scan the retina and produce two-dimensional en face images.