An Affordable Smartphone-based Fundus Imaging Device for Retinal Examination

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Devices
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Fundus imaging is crucial for diagnosing ocular diseases but faces cost and accessibility barriers.
• Conventional fundus cameras are expensive and not widely available, limiting screening in resource-constrained settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an affordable and portable smartphone-based fundus imaging adapter, the Glaucoma Screening on Phone (GSoP).
• To assess the GSoP's capability in capturing diagnostically relevant images of the optic disc for glaucoma screening.

Main Methods:

• Developed an inexpensive smartphone adapter using accessible components.
• Recorded retinal videos focusing on the optic disc region in dilated pupils.
• Conducted a qualitative comparison with a commercial ophthalmoscope (oDocs-nun).

Main Results:

• The GSoP successfully captured diagnostically relevant images of the optic disc, despite some artifacts like glare.
• Qualitative comparison showed the GSoP effectively highlights the optic nerve head, crucial for glaucoma screening.
• The adapter has a production cost under C10, making it highly accessible.

Conclusions:

• The GSoP offers a practical and affordable solution for smartphone-based fundus imaging and glaucoma screening.
• Its design is suitable for mydriatic video-based screening in primary healthcare and educational settings.
• Future enhancements like glare reduction and AI integration could further improve diagnostic capabilities.