There are situations when we don’t have time to make a doctor appointment to see if we suffer from an ear infection. So, if you have the opportunity to get a home-purpose new otoscope, you should definitely consider as an option.
The most important aspect is that, after you consult a doctor that teaches you the basics of using this type of medical instrument, you can rely on it whenever you or your little one have an ear discomfort.
However, the otoscope is an excellent tool that can be used for other purposes. For example, if you weren’t aware of the fact that there’s also an instrument called ophthalmoscope, now it’s the perfect moment to become familiar with it.
An ophthalmoscope is used by the ophthalmologist or physician to check your eyes to see if you suffer from an eye condition of other disorders related to this body area.
Even though the otoscope and the ophthalmoscope look similar and sound almost the same, in reality, they differ completely because of their usability. Indeed, both of them enable a doctor to get a limited view of some parts of your body. Furthermore, they are completely non-invasive, and each of these instruments uses a special light and magnifying lenses to get an insight. The major difference is that the otoscope is used for ear examinations and the ophthalmoscope for your eyes. Plus, they show minor differences in their design and number of types.
To check the ear for an infection in the privacy of your own home, you need some training, a speculum, and a good otoscope to do the examination. It’s not a complicated thing, and after a couple of checkings, you’ll see how easier it gets.
Nevertheless, this does not apply to an ophthalmoscope because there are no units available for personal use. Also, unlike the otoscope, that can be used by anyone as long as they obey some simple safety rules, this tool needs proper training because the risk of injuring someone is extremely high.
On the other hand, otoscopes can be easily purchased from specialized stores. They are not so pricey and quite small so that they won’t occupy much space. Apart from this, they can be easily handled, and the most important part is that they offer precious information about your health.
There’s no need to worry because if you’re looking at an otoscope ophthalmoscope set comparison, you’ll notice that both of them work on the same principle.
When the line shines through the pupil, you are able to get a good view of the interior back of the eye, also called the fundus. The parts that make up this fundus are the retina, optic disc, and macula. Once the examination is completed, the doctor has seen important details and can come up with a diagnosis and treatment of your eye condition.
You can get the most of your otoscope if you decide to use for eye checks. However, you should understand that there are certain limitations and that an otoscope is suitable for the ear canal and not so much for your eyes.
On top of that, an otoscope is a great tool that can be used for checking the mouth and the nose, as well. Compared to an ophthalmoscope that has one purpose and only, this medical instrument is versatile and comes in handy if you need to do the checkup at home.
In terms of design, the head of the otoscope is equipped with a cone-shaped tip that ensures a safe insertion into the patient’s ear. In order to prevent bacteria spread, you need a disposable speculum that covers the instrument during the ear examination.
The head of the ophthalmoscope is flat on each side and should never, under no circumstance, come in contact with the eyes.
Although there is only one type of otoscope, the version available for at home examinations is different from the one used by the medical staff. It still performs in an identical manner just that the images are seen less clear. You’ll get accurate results even if the device is not professional. Just make sure you check the lenses of the otoscope by looking at the letters found in a book or newspaper.
If your little one is coming down with a fever and you want to see if the tonsils have grown or modified their shape, an otoscope is a perfect tool in this case. Even if someone from your family has a toothache and can’t seem to know what’s causing it, the otoscope enables a perfect view inside the mouth.
This type of instrument is indeed a blessing especially if you have children or elderly in the family. If you have doubts about a product of this kind, consult your doctor and see if you can learn interesting facts about how to use the otoscope in a proper manner.
Children and adults respond differently during the examination. If you need to check whether your baby has a small toy in its noise, first try to calm down the situation. Talk to your little one, and little by little get the otoscope and avoid tilting the baby’s head because the risk of choking is extremely high.
