Retina imaging device developed for patients’ own use

Engineers in the US have developed a new hand-held device that allows ophthalmologists to look deep inside the retina without the need for the pupil to be dilated beforehand.

The researchers from Rice University in Houston, Texas, believe that this could help to improve the diagnosis of conditions that could affect the vision, particularly in developing countries.

Known as mobileVision, the invention can be linked to smartphones, meaning it can be administered by patients living in poorer communities, rather than them having to travel to clinics to have eye drops inserted.

In particular, mobileVision is designed to take snapshots of the macula, which is the part of the eye where the most light-sensitive retina cells are located and the highest resolution images are formed.

Adam Samagieno, the engineering researcher who developed the device, explained in a statement: "Degradation of the macula immediately degrades your eyesight."

Images collected via the device can then be sent to doctors, who will decide whether or not they need to go to see the patient and diagnose or treat their condition in person.