Open-source camera takes sting out of eye examinations

The prototype camera – developed by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School - is made up of readily available parts that can be assembled for around $185.

It has been designed to overcome problems that can arise with pupil-dilating eye drops that are administered as part of eye examinations. These can include the time it takes for the drops to work, several hours of blurred vision afterwards, and a stinging sensation when they are delivered.

"As residents seeing patients in the hospital, there are often times when we are not allowed to dilate patients -- neurosurgery patients for example," said Dr Bailey Shen, a second-year ophthalmology resident at the UIC College of Medicine. "Also, there are times when we find something abnormal in the back of the eye, but it is not practical to wheel the patient all the way over to the outpatient eye clinic just for a photograph."