A Rapid and Affordable Eye Diagnostic Camera

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Date
2010-05-17
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Publisher
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
Abstract
Corneal disease is the second leading cause of blindness in the developing world. Over 314 million people are visually impaired and nearly 90% live in the developing world. Better diagnosis of corneal disease would decrease the number of blindness cases. Fluorescein sodium is often used to diagnose dry eye, corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers, and other afflictions. A diagnostic eye camera that could take naked and fluorescent images of the cornea would improve diagnostics in the developing world. A web camera with a USB 1.0 interface was adapted for fluorescent imaging. Blue LEDs covered in an additional blue-light filter and a yellow band-pass filter were used to provide optimal imaging. The resultant device has the ability to image any part of the human body, and fluorescently image the eye. The device can be bulk manufactured for approximately $10.88 and disseminated in the developing world with fluorescein sodium dye strips. Initial results show that the images provided by this device can be used accurately to diagnose many corneal diseases and some other ocular diseases as well.
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Keywords
developing world healthcare, economic healthcare technology, fluorescein sodium, corneal disease, eye diagnostic camera
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