Slit-lamp based intraocular lens microscope - A novel technique of rapid office-based microscopy

Abstract

The emergence of smartphone-based imaging devices has been a boon in the field of ophthalmology, especially in obtaining high-quality ocular images. They can be specialized and utilized for imaging-specific regions of the eye. Among the multitude of applications of smartphone-based imaging, one of the upcoming major use is to image the microbiological world. Previous few reports have described attaching magnifying lenses of various types to the smartphone camera and transforming it into a microscope for imaging fungal hyphae and ocular surface parasites. We describe a novel technique of attaching the smartphone-based intraocular lens microscope (IOLSCOPE) to the slit lamp, thereby utilizing the slit lamp joystick for moving the smartphone over the concerned slide specimen to make it steady and obtain images of high resolution. This innovative do-it-yourself novel modification is especially useful in peripheral centers, vision centers, and local clinics for immediate screening and identification of microbial pathogens such as fungi and ocular surface parasites.

Keywords: IOLSCOPE; Innovation; microbiology; microscope; smartphone.

Figure 1

(a) Materials required for assembling the slit lamp based intraocular lens microscope (SLIM); i. smartphone holding adapter, ii. Torch, iii. Slides, iv. Smartphone based intraocular lens microscope (IOLSCOPE), v. Slit lamp; (b) Schematic diagram of SLIM; i. slit lamp Joystick, ii. Smartphone adapter, iii. Smartphone, iv. IOLSCOPE attached to smartphone, v. Sample slide, vi. Torch, vii. Illumination arm of slit lamp, viii. Optical arm of slit lamp, ix. Co-pivot mechanical joint of slit lamp

Figure 2

(a) IOLSCOPE with four IOLs stacked over the iphone5 camera; (b) Attachment of the IOLSCOPE to the mobile end of the adapter; (c) Arrow pointing toward the slit lamp co-pivot; (d) Dismantling of the illumination arm of the slit lamp; (e) Attachment of the slit lamp end of the smartphone adapter to the illumination arm; (f) Placement of the illumination arm of the slit lamp back on to the co-pivot mechanical arm; (g) Tightening of the screw of mechanical arm; (h) Superior view of SLIM assembly; (i) Lateral view of S.L.I.M ready for imaging microbiological or histopathological slides by moving the slit lamp joystick

Figure 3

(a) Lateral view of SLIM assembly with a different slit lamp model; (b) View from patient’s perspective of SLIM; (c) Lateral view of SLIM being used to image a slide; (d) Superior view of SLIM being used to image a slide