[The ophthalmologic examination in psychiatry].

A 20-year experience of an ophthalmologist at a mental hospital, and the results of examination of over 2500 patients show an important role of ophthalmological examination in psychiatry. It is of definite help in the diagnosis of organic pathology of the brain, an indirect assessment of the status of the cerebral vessels, the conduction of clinico-genetic investigations, therapeutic and rehabilitation help to patients and control of side effects of psychotropic therapy on the eye. The psychic status of patients and the frequency of functional visual disturbances in them require the employment of a number of specific methods of ophthalmological examination. This calls for the obtaining of modern equipment for the ophthalmologist's room at a mental hospital as well as for specialized training of eye specialists working there.