Seeing and documenting consults can be tricky, but coming prepared with the right gear can make everyone’s life a little easier.
-Best penlight:
Not too dim, not too bright. Nice, even illumination helps take good photos if needed as a fill light. Seems to be pretty durable though some have complained about the pocket clip coming off.
-Runner up penlight:
Nice pupil gauge and texture, but light isn’t even and doesn’t stay on as reliably.
Haven’t tried this one but looks like this could be the best of both worlds:
-Cobalt blue penlight for fluorescein exams:
This is great, very bright and helps get good pictures for exams. Sometimes it’s brighter than a dimmer portable slit lamp and can sub in as the light source for it. Be advised, apparently AAAA batteries both exist and when you need to replace the batteries in this penlight, you will need some.
-Red penlight
This is great for pupil checks for patients with darker irides. You can have them look a little up and off into the distance, then shine the red light at them from below to light up their pupils without causing them to constrict too much. Then, use your other hand to shine a white light at their pupils and do the swinging flashlight test.
-Plano loupes:
You’ll never know when you need these to help suture a laceration or do a minor procedure. Combine them with a cheap headlamp and you’re in business just about anywhere.
-Clip-on macro lens:
Great for getting photos of the conj/cornea, lid lesions etc. Has to be pretty close to the patient (~inches). Also good for getting videos for pediatric exams in more challenging patients. It is pretty light-hungry so you’ll likely want a clip-on light to go with it. Or there are a few models with built-in lights.
-Easy-to-hold RGB light:
I use this together with the macro lens, or for fluorescein exams on the go or with pediatric patients. I plop it on the back of my phone and hold it in-place while taking photos. This one is pretty big and causes a big reflection on the cornea so honestly I am looking at some smaller options.
-Green or red laser pointer
Put a sticker on the wall as a fixation target, and these are great for getting pretty decent visual fields anywhere (ED/inpatient consult). I got a few cheap from eBay from China for like $1 each.
Other odds and ends:
-Demarres retractors (can get pretty cheap e.g., on eBay)
-Compounded 1% tropicamide/2.5% phenylephrine drops (faster, more convenient, and more effective than the individual drops). In a pinch, 4 mL of 10% phenyl added to a 15 mL bottle of 1% trop gets you something similar, but you should not do this unless you are a compounding pharmacist.
-Near card (such as Rosenbaum), +2.50 readers and also a small pocket distance eye chart (I have been using the 6 ft one on the back of the Maxwell Quick Medical Reference).
-Half-Pupil pupil ruler/pupil gauge such as:
Med School Beast 