Clinical Role of Smartphone Fundus Imaging in Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Neuro-retinal Diseases

ABSTRACT

Purpose: In today’s life, many electronic gadgets have the potential to become invaluable health care devices in future. The gadgets in this category include smartphones, smartwatches, and others. Till now, smartphone role has been highlighted on many occasions in different areas, and they continue to possess immense role in clinical documentation, clinical consultation, and digitalization of ocular care. In last one decade, many treatable conditions including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other pediatric retinal diseases are being imaged using smartphones.

Methods: To comprehend this cumulative knowledge, a detailed medical literature search was conducted on PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science till February 2021.

Results: The included literature revealed a definitive progress in posterior segment imaging. From simple torch light with smartphone examination to present day compact handy devices with artificial intelligence integrated software’s have changed the very perspectives of ocular imaging in ophthalmology. The consistently reproducible results, constantly improving imaging techniques, and most importantly their affordable costs have renegotiated their role as effective screening devices in ophthalmology. Moreover, the obtained field of view, ocular safety, and their key utility in non-ophthalmic specialties are also growing.

Conclusions: To conclude, smartphone imaging can now be considered as a quick, cost-effective, and digitalized tool for posterior segment screenings, however, their definite role in routine ophthalmic clinics is yet to be established.

KEYWORDS:

• Diabetic retinopathy
• smartphone fundus imaging in diabetic retinopathy
• smartphone based retinal imaging
• smartphone based optic nerve head imaging
• Smartphone fundus imaging

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).