D-EYE Method improves fundoscopic exam of pediatric patients

“D-EYE is slowly creating the re-birth of the important direct ophthalmoscopy examination. All new medical devices require a trial run towards clinical acceptability. This smartphone-based mobile telemedicine system will help reduce missed clinical diagnosis not easily found with the traditional ophthalmoscope. Dr. Suh and team captured some amazing examples of the fundus images D-EYE can see.”

As indicated in the Open Journal of Ophthalmology, published by Scientific Research Publishing (SCRIP), a study was performed by a team of researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center to determine the utility in a clinical setting to detect and document ocular pathology in the pediatric population using the D-EYE Retinal Imaging System.

Methods: Patients ages 3-18 years old underwent dilated fundus examinations by masked examiners using the video function of the D-EYE application while indirect ophthalmology was performed by a pediatric ophthalmologist.

The examiners independently analysed the D-EYE videos for the presence or absence of abnormalities, cup-to-disc (c/d) ratios and optic nerve size and color. The D-EYE video findings were compared to indirect ophthalmoscopy findings.

Results: The study included 172 eyes from 87 patients. In comparing D-EYE to indirect ophthalmoscopy for detecting fundus abnormalities, the sensitivity was 0.72, specificity was 0.97, positive likelihood ratio (LR) was 27.8, and negative LR was 0.29. he agreement rate between the D-EYE video graders for the c/d ratio within a value of 0.1 was 97.0%.

Multiple, distinct abnormalities were discovered using the D-EYE device, including nystagmus, optic nerve hypoplasia, optic disc edema, peripapillary atrophy, disc pallor, and optic disc drusen.

Conclusion: Fundoscopic imaging using the D-EYE smartphone lens reliably detects the presence of fundus abnormalities and has good reliability in assessing c/d ratios. The video capability is useful in patients with nystagmus or those who are poorly compliant with the examination and allowed for effective teaching by the pediatric ophthalmologist.

“The D-EYE system is a promising alternative to conventional fundus-viewing methods, Dr. Donny Suh, lead researcher of the Omaha team stated. “By utilising the advanced technology of smartphone cameras with D-EYE, the fundoscopic exam can feasibly be attained efficiently and effectively throughout clinics worldwide with the telemedicine potential to create greater collaboration between non-ophthmologists and ophthmologists. Sharing exam results with patients and parents aid in a better understanding of their disease.