Fundus Drawing: Colour Coding Chart
A fundus drawing records the retinal periphery, usually with an indirect ophthalmoscope, on a chart of concentric circles marking the equator and ora serrata. The drawing is made inverted, as seen through the condensing lens, and a standard colour code lets anyone read it at a glance.
Standard colour code
| Colour | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Red | Attached retina, retinal arteries, retinal haemorrhages, neovascularisation. Retinal breaks are filled red and outlined in blue. |
| Blue | Detached retina, retinal veins, outlines of breaks, the ora serrata, and lattice degeneration (blue cross-hatching outlined in blue) |
| Green | Vitreous and media opacities, vitreous haemorrhage, intraocular foreign bodies |
| Yellow | Exudates, drusen, retinal oedema |
| Black | Retinal pigment, pigment clumps, and pigmented laser or cryotherapy scars |
| Brown | Choroidal detachment, uveal tissue, choroidal naevi and melanoma |
Conventions vary slightly between units; follow your department's code. See also retinal detachment and Lincoff rules.
Detailed fundus drawing chart
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