Smartphone use in ophthalmology: What is their place in clinical practice?

Abstract

Smartphones are an increasingly common and rapidly developing tool in clinical practice. Numerous applications or "apps" are available for use on smartphones that aim to help clinicians perform a variety of tasks at the point of care. A large number of ophthalmology-related medical apps that can perform a variety of clinically relevant functions are now available in virtual stores such as the Google Play™ Store or the Apple App Store®. On the ophthalmic front, these include measures of visual acuity, tools to assist in the assessment and treatment of conditions such as amblyopia and glaucoma, as well as add-on devices that allow visualization and photography of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Despite the large number of available programs, the evidence supporting their use is unclear, with issues concerning professional input in development, regulation, validation, and security of information. We present the various uses of smartphones in ophthalmology and summarize the current literature.

Keywords: amblyopia; application; diabetic retinopathy; direct ophthalmoscopy; fundoscopy; glaucoma; ophthalmology; smartphone; visual acuity; visual fields.