Affordable ultra-widefield smartphone PedCam for comprehensive pediatric retinal examination

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Abstract
Widefield fundus photography is critical for the detection, documentation, and management of pediatric eye diseases. Existing clinical pediatric fundus cameras offer a limited field of view (FOV) and suboptimal image contrast, hindering comprehensive peripheral retina examination. Additionally, the high cost and lack of portability of commercial devices restrict their use in resource-limited settings. We introduce a cost-effective smartphone-based pediatric camera (PedCam) that provides a 180° eye angle (126° visual angle) snapshot FOV. Utilizing trans-pars planar illumination, the device enables nonmydriatic imaging by allocating the pupil exclusively for imaging, eliminating the need for pharmacological pupillary dilation. By adjusting the optical axis of the PedCam relative to the ocular axis, the effective FOV can be expanded up to 240° eye angle (180° visual angle), enabling complete retinal evaluation. This innovative smartphone PedCam represents a significant advancement in affordable telemedicine for the screening, monitoring, and management of retinopathy of prematurity and other pediatric eye conditions.
Funding Information
  • Richard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago
  • Research to Prevent Blindness
  • National Eye Institute (P30 EY001792, R01 EY023522, R01 EY030101, R01EY029673, R01EY030842, R44 EY028786)

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