Video equipment recommendations for slit lamp videography

Current developments in video technology have made videotaping through a slit lamp a useful capability available at a more reasonable cost. The technical basis of equipment needed to select or design an apparatus for slit lamp videography is reviewed. As an overview, the optimum slit lamp video apparatus would have the following criteria; the slit lamp should have zoom optics and rheostat illumination, the beam splitter should be a mirror or 70/30 type, the camera should have maximal light sensitivity (101ux) with reasonable resolution (greater than 300 lines). The recorder should be SP-Umatic or Super VHS for documentation, or consumer VHS for patient education, and the monitor should be a professional 13- or 15-inch monitor.