Abstract
The purpose of this article is to describe how fundus images are obtained using a low-cost device: the “Visual Ear Wax Cleaner Tool” portable endoscope (Soonhua Inc., China) connected to a smartphone, after installation of free applications (“Inskam” and “CameraFI”) using the smartphone screen as a monitor and after medication mydriasis, local anesthesia, and blepharostat placement. With this endoscope, video recording and fundus imaging are easily performed, for the case of patients at the risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), facilitating timely screening in order to start treatment in patients who require it. This fundus imaging technique shares certain similarities with the RetCam® (Clarity, Pleasaton California) system, which performs real-time fundus imaging providing the ability to record and document findings and capture images from the video footage, with high quality and definition, although with a smaller angle of vision. The capture of images using a smartphone allows storing and sharing the images. These are devices which are generally accessible and portable and which use simplified energy sources, requiring very simple training. The low-cost, easy-to-learn technique and quick sharing of images through communication networks make this a tool to be considered for the practice of telemedicine.
Highlights
Retinopathy of prematurity is a potentially serious disease that causes a vascular development disorder in the retina of premature newborns with incomplete retinal vascularization. It is the main cause of preventable childhood blindness in developing countries
[1] Photography of the retina is among the many advances made in relation to this disease and others in the field of ophthalmology
It is a fundamental tool in the daily practice of ophthalmology but requires sophisticated and specialized instruments that can be Journal of Ophthalmology expensive, costing up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, as for the RetCam (Clarity, Pleasanton California) [2]
Summary
Retinopathy of prematurity is a potentially serious disease that causes a vascular development disorder in the retina of premature newborns with incomplete retinal vascularization. E objective of this report is to describe the feasibility of taking eye fundus pictures and screening for posterior pole ROP findings with a low-cost endoscope Devices such as this endoscope, once validated, can be a valuable tool for the practice of telemedicine which would help the screening of newborns at risk that need to be referred to an ophthalmologist for diagnosis and timely treatment [3]. ® e RetCam imaging system is a wide-field camera (up to 130°) that is used to capture images of the retina of premature infants It was specially designed for pediatric use, employing state-of-the-art digital technology that captures images in high resolution and records videos quickly and even in noncollaborating patients, cost and portability being its main limitations [7]. Multiple options for pediatric digital photography have been developed, some of them offering wider field of view and relatively low costs [10, 11]
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