Simple, Low-Cost Smartphone Adapter for Rapid, High Quality Ocular Anterior Segment Imaging: A Photo Diary

Abstract

Background: Smartphones with high quality photographic and video capabilities are now ubiquitous. However their utility for documenting ocular pathology has been limited by the optics, magnification, and lighting control required to capture key anatomic details of the eye. While various adapters have been designed to attach a smartphone to a slitlamp to obtain clinically useful photos, we sought a way for practitioners to achieve similar photos using only their existing smartphones with minimal additional hardware. Methods:We report the design of a simple, point-of-care optical adapter for imaging the anterior segment that combines a low-cost macrolens, LED external light source, and a universal attachment system for use with all smartphones. The adapter is easily attached and detached from a phone in seconds and is small enough to fit in a pocket when not in use.Results: A series of anterior segment photographs were obtained with the adapter that satisfactorily portrays a wide range of pathology of the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, iris, and lens without the need for a slitlamp. The external LED adjacent to the macrolens was key in creating a single light reflex that eliminated reflections on the cornea caused by ambient light.Conclusions: A simple, low-cost smartphone adapter can provide useful clinical information regarding the appearance of the lids and lashes, the clarity of the cornea, the state of the conjunctiva, the shape of the pupil and health of the iris, and the presence or absence of a hyphema or hypopyon. This may be useful for urgent triage and teleophthalmology in various settings.

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