A comparison of digital retinal image quality among photographers with different levels of training using a non-mydriatic fundus camera

Abstract

purpose To evaluate the quality of digital retinal images taken by three photographers with different levels of photographic training, using a non-mydriatic fundus camera.methods This study compares 45-degree digital retinal images taken with a non-mydriatic fundus camera by three different photographers with different levels of photographic training: (1) A professional ophthalmic photographer with 20 years of experience; (2) a non-professional photographer with 2 days of photographic training and experience with 50 patients; (3) a non-professional photographer with 1 hour of photographic training and experience with 10 patients. The quality of the photographs was evaluated by the consensus of two retina specialists.results Sixty-four (64) eyes of 33 subjects were imaged by the three photographers for a total of 192 images. Thirty-four eyes were photographed in the non-dilated state. The trained ophthalmic photographer and the two non-professional photographers did not have statistically significant differences in image quality based on the image evaluations. (Chi-square P-value: 0.57). This finding was consistent for eyes in both the non-dilated and dilated state.conclusions Fundus image quality for images taken with a non-mydriatic camera were not significantly different among three photographers with different levels of training.