Modular Optical System that Acts as an Adapter for Smart Devices

Abstract

This project aims to develop a low-cost, smartphone-adaptable ophthalmic imaging device that can be used to improve access and quality of eye care, particularly in emergency departments (i.e., triage contexts) and resource-limited settings (e.g., remote and/or rural clinics). Current tabletop ophthalmic imaging tools can be expensive and bulky, and thus not widely or easily available for use in such settings as the Emergency Room (ER), which can cause delays in diagnosis and treatment for patients presenting with acute eye pain. Our device seeks to leverage iPhone 16e smartphone imaging technology, combined with additional optical components/lens systems, to enable rapid and high-quality images of the anterior segment of the eye and, eventually, the posterior segment as well. The end goal is that non-specialists (e.g., ED providers) will be able to use the device to capture images and upload them via secure servers so that they can then be remotely accessed by an ophthalmologist for diagnostic evaluation, even while off-site. Ultimately, this device will support earlier detection, faster triage, and more equitable access to specialist eye care, especially for underserved or geographically isolated populations. In addition to streamlining the clinical workflow, it holds the potential to reduce healthcare costs by facilitating telehealth visits (thus saving both the patient and the doctors and hospital systems time and money) as well as preventing the progression of untreated conditions. With further prototyping, validation, and refinement, this device may one day become a standard tool in emergency medicine and tele-ophthalmology.

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