Purpose:
Photography has been a mainstay of ophthalmology since the invention of the Zeiss-Nordensen camera in the 1920s. Documentation of pathology affecting the retina and optic nerve are critical for diagnosis more so as telemedicine becomes important. Inpatients in a medical setting are often unable to come to the eye clinic or to sit up for standard photography. An inexpensive handheld portable fundus camera has been developed which provides simple execution of posterior pole photography.
Methods:
Patients undergoing ophthalmic inpatient consultation at the University of Virginia were recruited for a prospective IRB approved study of the effectiveness of the handheld portable fundus camera. Patients were dilated as part of their routine consultation. Photographs of one eye were taken. The first four patients documented the ability to take clinically adequate photos.
Results:
Review of the photographs indicate the ability to define cup-to-disc ratio, the presence of disc edema, hemorrhage, ARMD, and Hollenhorst plaque.
Conclusions:
An inexpensive handheld fundus camera may play a significant role in documenting fundus pathology on the consult service. Digital images may be directly downloaded to the patient's chart for use by the non-ophthalmic service.
Keywords: imaging/image analysis: clinical