Sankara Eye Hospital launched mobile-phone ophthalmoscope

A team of doctors from city based Sankara Eye Hospital have come up with a path breaking innovation by designing a portable mobile-phone ophthalmoscope that can capture high-quality photographs of the retina to help detect eye problems. According to the hospital this mobile-phone ophthalmoscope is the first of its kind in India.

Addressing the media on Tuesday about the technology, Dr Divyansh Mishra, Retina Fellow, Sankara Eye Hospital explained that one would just need a smart phone (preferable with a five mega pixels camera), an LED light, some wires and a battery. "We have converted a mobile phone into a ophthalmoscope that helps us capture pictures of internal parts of the eye."

"What we've done here is, convert a mobile phone into a direct ophthalmoscope by affixing a LED bulb, some wires and a battery that just costs around Rs. 35-50. The advantage of this technique is that the mobile phone now doubles up as a direct ophthalmoscope, in addition allowing capturing of images and storage which is often not possible with the direct ophthalmoscope. Patients in rural clinics unfortunately often lack the financial means to undergo regular eye examinations. Rural ophthalmologists often do not posses expensive equipment to diagnose their patients. With just a few modifications to their existing smart phone, rural ophthalmologists can access expensive eye care techniques like Fundus photography" further added Dr Mishra.

The team consisting of Dr Divyansh K Mishra, Dr Madhu Kumar, Dr Rajesh, Dr Srinivasulu Reddy and Dr Gladys Rodregues lead by Dr P Shanmugam are the brain behind the initiative.The same initiative can also be used by paramedics and non-professionals as the procedure to do the same is relatively simple.

Vikram Choudari, Chief Executive Officer, Sankara Eye Hospital added that the device was also cost effective.