Smartphone imaging the retina for glaucoma screening and monitoring
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Smartphone imaging the retina for glaucoma screening and monitoring
IRAS ID
174542
Contact name
Yalin Zheng
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness and affects over half a million people in the UK alone. Sometimes called the “silent thief of sight”, it progresses slowly and unnoticeably but causes irreversible damage. Being able to see changes to the shape and appearance of the back of the eye where the nerve leaves the eye (an area known as the “optic disc”) is important in detecting and monitoring glaucoma. Currently this requires special photographs to be taken using expensive equipment (a fundus camera) operated by a trained technician. However, recent advances in mobile devices provide a potentially inexpensive means of obtaining, analysing, securely storing and transmitting photographs. We will study whether two commercially available smartphone based devices (iExaminer and D-Eye) can provide useful optic disc images.
The optic disc in 100 glaucoma patients will be photographed by using the iExaminer, D-Eye, and the type of fundus camera currently used. The image quality of the acquired images will be compared and rated by trained technicians at the Liverpool Reading Centre. Built on our experience in automated image analysis, computer programs will be developed for the automated measurement of image quality and detection of features in the images like the optic disc.
This research will allow us to evaluate the usability and image quality of the smartphone based devices (iExaminer and D-Eye). If image quality is good enough, such deviceswould provide a cheap and effective alternative to more expensive systems for detecting and monitoring eye changes caused by glaucoma. The information obtained may also support wider use of these devices in many primary and secondary care settings.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0653
Date of REC Opinion
4 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion