Abstract
Purpose :
A cost effective, portable, wide field (80 degrees or more) retinal imaging system is needed that is compatible with smart mobile phone platforms to improve diagnoses of retinal diseases like retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), retinoblastoma, and diabetic retinopathy in resource constrained health care regions worldwide.
Methods :
A prototype portable, contact optics, widefield retinal imaging system is being developed that utilizes the 80 degree and 130 degree Retcam contact lenses (Clarity Medical Systems) combined with a novel, custom made illumination system, and a modern digital camera (Canon EOS Rebel T6S). This modern digital camera provides features incluing high definition video, synchronization to a mobile device, over 24 megapixel digital image resolution, and ISO Range sensitivity and manual focus features that outperform mobile phone cameras . The camera system may be adjusted and updated as camera technologies continue to improve. The transfer of images from the digital camera to a mobile platform may allow for expansion to telemedicine applications. The prototype system has been tested on an optical bench with a model eye as well as on a single adult human subject eye.
Results :
The prototype system achieves illumination levels (maximum 12 Klux 130° lens) comparable with the Retcam3 system (maximum 11 Klux 80° lens and 15.5 Klux 130° lens) and thus is within a similar safety range for clinical use.
Using a model eye as a test subject, high quality images of a simulated retina and target image have been obtained. The field of view of images is consistent with the 80 degree and 130 degree parameters of the Retcam contact lenses.
Preliminary images of an adult eye retina are comparable to those obtained by the Retcam3 system.
Images were successfully synchronized to a mobile phone platform.
Conclusions :
A portable, wide field, contact optics retinal imaging system is under development. Preliminary images are comparable with those taken by the Retcam3 system by Clarity Medical Systems. This system is being designed for portability and may be upgraded as camera technologies improve. Synchronization of the camera with mobile devices and computer platforms may allow for telemedicine applications of obtained digital retinal images.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.