A new method for retroillumination photography of cataractous lens opacities

Abstract

We studied a new method for photographing cataractous lens opacaities by retroillumination. The slit-lamp microscope was modified with an adaptor to eliminate the specular reflection from the corneal surface. We construcated two kinds of adaptors for the Zeiss and Goldmann-type slit-lamp microscopes. The cataractous lens opacities were recorded both on Ektachrome color films and Tri-X monochromatic films. In using a monochromatic film, an orange filter was inserted in the illumination beam in order to increase the image contrast. The results were satisfactory with high resolution and good contrast. We found the new device to be useful clinically for evaluating the progressive changes of cataractous lens opacities.