Sunday, February 20, 2011

The Red Reflex (Not A Superhero)

We have a practical exam for physical diagnosis coming up.

During a practice session last week:

Doctor: "So during the exam, you should announce your findings and steps for the preceptor."
Me (holding a fundoscope): "Okay."
Doctor (looking at me): "So you should say 'I see the red reflex.'"
Me: "I see the red reflex."
Doctor (eyes still on me): "Yep."
Me (what else now?): "I see the red reflex."
Doctor (still staring): "Uh huh."
Me (dramatically now): "I see the RED REFLEX!"
Doctor (turning away with a laugh): "Good!"

He flourished a hand like the maestro he is.

The red reflex is the reddish-orange reflection from the eye's retina that is observed using an ophthalmoscope in a dark room. Abnormal white spots or an absence of a normal red reflex can be caused by cataracts, glaucoma, retinoblastoma or retinal detachment. Red, good. White, bad. Kinda like Lunar New Year colors. 

2 comments:

  1. I really think it's great that you're a writer and a med student. I wanna become like you! I'm actually the one who requested for you to post your experiences in med school, and I'm just reading them now. I'm a fan of False Facades, btw, and I intend to read Through Me as soon as it's finished, so I don't freak when I have to wait for months for the next chapter to get posted! Best wishes to you! You're one of the coolest girls on the planet!

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  2. Aww, thank you so much! I'm sure you're one of my coolest readers too. Thank you so much for the support! :)

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