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J CATARACT REFRACT SURG - VOL 32, NOVEMBER 2006
Techniques
Camera adapter for anterior segment
slitlamp photography
Chris J. McLean, FRCOphth, Charalambos M. Tossounis, MBBS, George M. Saleh, MRCSEd, MRCOphth
We describe an original, affordable and readily accessible slit lamp camera adapter. This is easilyassembled from parts already available in most eye units, allowing ready access to anterior seg-ment photography, using both digital and analog cameras.
J Cataract Refract Surg 2006; 32:1889–1891 Q 2006 ASCRS and ESCRS
Capturing images of ophthalmic conditions for documen-
tation, monitoring treatment progression, teaching, or
medico-legal purposes is useful, but due to the high price
of photographic systems and the dedicated adapters re-
quired, this clinical tool is frequently underutilized.1,2
Compact, inexpensive digital cameras can be used totake slitlamp photographs by focusing directly through
the slitlamp eye piece.3 However, it can be difficult to
align the camera, and the photograph may suffer from
vignetting.
We describe an adapter that captures good quality im-
agery of the anterior segment. It is composed of parts read-
ily available in most eye units, the cost is minimal, and the
assembly process is simple. The adapter can be used for dig-ital and analog photography together with several different
slitlamps. It is a cost-saving tool that will not compromise
image quality.
Accepted for publication August 23, 2006.
From the Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Surrey CountyHospital, Guildford, United Kingdom.
Presented as a poster at the World Congress of Ophthalmology,Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 2006.
Corresponding author: Charalambos M. Tossounis, MBBS, Depart-ment of Ophthalmology, Royal Surrey County Hospital, EgertonRoad, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XX, United Kingdom. E-mail:[email protected].
Q 2006 ASCRS and ESCRS
Published by Elsevier Inc.
SLITLAMP ADAPTER
The adapter has 2 main parts: a T-mount for the camera
(digital single lens reflex [SLR]) and a cylinder for attach-
ment to the slitlamp oculus.
Assembly and Use of the Camera Adapter
The main part of the adapter consists of a blue cap
taken from a bottle containing 1000 mL of sterile water
for irrigation (Figure 1, A). The blue cap is detached, leav-
ing both ends open. A portion of the bottle at the nozzle
end, measuring 22 mm in height from the tip, is cut off (Fig-
ure 1, B). The T-mount for the camera (52 mm) is fit on the
wider end of the blue cap and pressed into place (Figure 1,
C). For different T-mounts, a tighter fit can be achieved bytrimming the bottle cap where the T-mount joins it.
The eye piece from the slitlamp is then advanced
through the cap and secured by the white plastic internal
nozzle screw that was cut off the bottle (Figure 2, A and
B). The camera is fit to the T-mount and the slitlamp ocular,
now protruding through the narrow end of the blue cap, is
advanced into a Haag-Streit BM 900 slitlamp microscope
slot (Figure 2, C). The camera adapter is substantial enoughto stabilize and carry the weight of the full-sized digital SLR
camera used.
Figure 3 shows several photographs of the anterior seg-
ment taken with the system.
DISCUSSION
The photographs captured by the adapter were of good
quality, and the device was simple to assemble and use. In
0886-3350/06/$-see front matterdoi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2006.08.019
1889
ASI: CAMERA ADAPTER FOR ANTERIOR SEGMENT SLITLAMP PHOTOGRAPHY
Figure 1. (A, B, C) Assembly of the camera adapter. A: The plastic 1000 ml bottle with the blue cap. B: Measurement for the creation of the nozzle screw that
secures the eye piece at the adapter. C: The plastic adapter with the T-mount and the nozzle screw.
Figure 2. (A, B, C) Implementation of the camera adapter. A: The eye piece is advanced through the adapter. B: The plastic nozzle screw secures the eye piece
at the adapter. C: The camera with the adapter and the eye piece is mounted at the slit lamp.
Figure 3. Images obtained with the camera adapter.
J CATARACT REFRACT SURG - VOL 32, NOVEMBER 20061890
ASI: CAMERA ADAPTER FOR ANTERIOR SEGMENT SLITLAMP PHOTOGRAPHY
this instance, a digital camera was used, but it is possible
to use an analog camera if the appropriate T-mount is
obtained.
The cost of photographic adapters for slitlamps can be
prohibitive, so the described plastic adapter, which can be
put together from a used bottle of saline and a cameraT-mount that costs approximately $20, is an affordable al-
ternative for ophthalmologists worldwide, especially those
in developing countries or places where resources are limited.
J CATARACT REFRACT SURG
REFERENCES
1. Kwan A. A simple slit lamp digital photographic system. Eye News 2000;
6:18–22
2. Raman S. A simple digital photographic system for ophthalmologists.
Eye News 2005; 12:38–43; Available at: http://www.pinpointmedical.
com/eye_news/article_archive/misc/AS05_digital.pdf. Accessed Au-
gust 18, 2006
3. Doan AP, Boland MV, Oetting TA. Make the most of digital cameras.
EyeNet 2005; 9(4):31–32
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