Look into the slit lamp
In this "narrow" light all of the layers of the eye, right down to the retina, can be examined.
How can you examine the retina, how does the retina function?
How can you examine the retina, how does the retina function? The retina is at the back of the eyeball, lining it right up to the front, where the ciliary body is. It consists of highly specialised nerve cells. The image that we see is created not on the retina itself but behind it, on a thin layer of pigment. The retina is translucent and simply scans the image on the pigment layer - similar to the film in a camera - and transmits the signal via the optic nerve to the image processing centres in the brain.
The retina is examined using a retinoscope or slit lamp; it is also possible to photograph fine details using a special camera.
Here are two examples:
Normal retinoscope result, left eye.
Damage caused by diabetes mellitus.