You are scanning the macula of a patient's left eye and want to view tissues temporal to the macula. Where should the patient look?

You are scanning the macula of a patient's left eye and want to view tissues temporal to the macula. Where should the patient look?

• A. Left
• B. Right
• C. Left with 0.5 inferior
• D. Right with 0.5 inferior

Answer: (A)

To image tissues temporal to the macula, you need the scan to intersect with the temporal (toward the temple) retina. In the left eye, directing the patient to look toward the left shifts the scanning field onto the temporal retina, bringing that region into view. Looking to the right would move you toward the nasal side, and looking inferiorly would move you toward a lower retinal region, not the temporal side.

To image tissues temporal to the macula, you need the scan to intersect with the temporal (toward the temple) retina. In the left eye, directing the patient to look toward the left shifts the scanning field onto the temporal retina, bringing that region into view. Looking to the right would move you toward the nasal side, and looking inferiorly would move you toward a lower retinal region, not the temporal side.