Which of the following instruments provides a two-dimensional view of the retina?

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a diagnostic imaging technique widely used in ophthalmology to provide high-resolution, cross-sectional images of the retina. It utilizes light waves to take pictures of the retina, allowing clinicians to visualize the different layers of retinal tissue in detail. This two-dimensional imaging capability is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring various retinal diseases, such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

While a slit lamp is valuable for examining the anterior section of the eye and could give some information about the retina through indirect methods, it primarily provides a three-dimensional view of the structures it examines. A fundus camera captures images of the retina but typically produces two-dimensional photographs rather than the detailed, layer-specific information that OCT can offer. A tonometer measures intraocular pressure but does not visualize the retina at all. Therefore, the selection of OCT reflects its unique ability to generate detailed two-dimensional images of the retinal layers, making it an essential tool in modern ophthalmic practice.