Funduscopy usually takes place in a physician’s office or clinic. The test requires little or no preparation on the part of patients. If the test involves eye drops that dilate (widen) the pupil, they should bring sunglasses and, as instructed by the office, may need to arrange for transportation home.

Patients should inform their physician if they:

• Are allergic to any medications
• Are taking any medications at the time of testing
• Have glaucoma (eye disease that affects the optic nerve) or a family history of the disease

In addition, certain eye problems may interfere with obtaining accurate test results. These include:

• Incomplete pupil dilation
• Cataracts (clouding of the eye’s lens or capsule)
• Cloudiness of the liquid (aqueous humor) or gel (vitreous humor) inside the eye