Hand-held ophthalmic camera for early detection and mass screening of eye diseases

Abstract

Screening for eye disease has become increasingly important as the population ages in Singapore and around the world. With the current technology, early diagnosis can only be made via detailed examination of the eye’s fundus, which is performed by health professionals using ophthalmic diagnostic tool. However, such devices are usually bulky, non-portable, costly, and require considerable technical expertise to operate. Ophthalmologists perform tests to detect diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and other forms of diseases that lead to blindness. With this consideration, early discovery of eye diseases plays a vital role to prevent the loss of eyesight. In collaboration with Tan Tock Seng hospital, the research team has developed and patented a portable hand-held ophthalmic imaging system that utilizes an off-the-shelf high-resolution digital camera which is easy to use and at a fractional cost, as opposed to the conventional camera system. The image acquisition system was developed using the original system from an off-the-shelf camera but tailored to specific requirements, incorporating lenses and light source for retina imaging. The invention serves as an add-on device connected to any digital camera. It comprises of various kinds of specially designed lenses for imaging, Infrared (IR) and highpowered white light LEDs as illumination source for camera attachment. With this invention, quality retinal images could be acquired with just a click of a button. The objective of this project is to promote early diagnosis of eye disease, thus preventing blindness resulted from other health diseases. The final product is significantly more costeffective than the conventional ophthalmic diagnostic tool. It is portable, light-weight and does not require professional experts to operate and/or maintain it. These features are ideal for a mass-screening tool. Additionally, it would be beneficial to people from around the world, especially those located in the developing countries where their hospitals and clinics could only afford selective and more practical medical devices.