Hand-held digital video-camera for eye examination and follow-up

Abstract

We developed a hand-held digital colour video-camera for eye examination in primary care. The device weighed 550 g. It featured a charge-coupled device (CCD) and corrective optics. Both colour video and digital still images could be taken. The video-camera was connected to a PC with software for database storage, image processing and telecommunication. We studied 88 normal subjects (38 male, 50 female), aged 7-62 years. It was not necessary to use mydriatic eye drops for pupillary dilation. Satisfactory digital images of the whole face and the anterior eye were obtained. The optic disc and the central part of the ocular fundus could also be recorded. Image quality of the face and the anterior eye were excellent; image quality of the optic disc and macula were good enough for tele-ophthalmology. Further studies are needed to evaluate the usefulness of the equipment in different clinical conditions.

Sensitivity and specificity of digital retinal images in grading diabetic retinopathy

“…The simplified hand‐held digital colour videocamera (MediTell) intended to be used by general practitioners provided excellent digital images of the whole face and the anterior eye, but the diameter of one imaging field of the ocular fundus was only about three disc diameters and imaging was possible to only about 20 ° from the central fundus (Saari et al 2002). The quality of still images of the ocular fundus was worse than that of the continuous fundus videophotography (Saari et al 2002). Still images used in this study were obscure, only occasionally showing haemorrhages and hard exudates, and could not demonstrate MAs, IRMAs or neovascularization.…”

“…Two single (still) images were taken using a white‐light flash for illumination. Captured JPEG images had a field area of about 20 ° (Saari et al 2002). All images were captured by a professional photographer at the Turku University Eye Clinic.…”

“…The aim of the present study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of three novel digital fundus cameras with remote image interpretation for DR grading. For digital fundus imaging we chose a Topcon TRC 50 IA fundus camera (Topcon Europe BV, LJ Capelle a/d IJssel, the Netherlands), used at the Photographic Laboratory of University Eye Clinic, University of Turku; a Canon CR6–45NM (Canon Europe, Amstelveen, the Netherlands), a new digital version of the popular CR5–45NM Polaroid fundus camera widely used for screening for DR; and a simplified hand‐held digital colour videocamera (MediTell, MediMaker Ltd, Ranua, Finland), recently described as being appropriate for the use of general practitioners but not previously tested for screening of DR or other eye diseases (Saari et al 2002).…”

Comparison of a Remote Operating Slit-Lamp Microscope System With a Conventional Slit-Lamp Microscope System for Examination of Trabeculectomy Eyes

“…1,5,6,[11][12][13] Many small towns have no ophthalmologists, because of the shortage of ophthalmologists. Some trials were conducted in the field of ophthalmology, 5-10 but the conditions to successful tele-medicine are insufficient.…”