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

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.