Smartphone for retinal imaging – Case series in resource-limited rural settings

Purpose: There is a clinical need for a cost-effective, reliable, easy-to-use, and portable retinal photography. The use of smartphone fundus photography for documentation of retinal changes in resource-limited settings, where retinal imaging was not previously possible, is studied here. The introd...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Vishwanath, Deepak T Swamy, Daneshwari S Gaddi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2023;volume=71;issue=5;spage=2008;epage=2013;aulast=Swamy
Description
Summary:Purpose: There is a clinical need for a cost-effective, reliable, easy-to-use, and portable retinal photography. The use of smartphone fundus photography for documentation of retinal changes in resource-limited settings, where retinal imaging was not previously possible, is studied here. The introduction of smartphone-based retinal imaging has resulted in the increase in available technologies for fundus photography. On account of the cost, fundus cameras are not readily available in ophthalmic practice in developing countries. Because smartphones are readily available, easy to use, and also portable, they present a low-cost alternative method in resource-limited settings. The aim is to explore the use of smartphones (iphones) for retinal imaging in resource-limited settings. Methods: A smartphone (iphone) was used to acquire retinal images with the use of +20 D lens in patients with dilated pupils by activating the video mode of the camera. Results: Clear retinal images were obtained in different clinical conditions in adults and children, including branch retinal vein occlusion with fibro-vascular proliferation, choroidal neo-vascular membranes, presumed ocular toxoplasmosis, diabetic retinopathy, retinoblastoma, ocular albinism, and hypertensive retinopathy. Conclusion: New inexpensive, portable, easy-to-operate cameras have revolutionized retinal imaging and screening programs and play an innovative role in research, education, and information sharing.
ISSN:0301-4738
1998-3689