A real ‘eye-opener’ from ophthalmic surgeon

KOCHI: Retinal imaging, which plays a crucial role in documenting retinal ailments and helps in the follow-up treatment, requires fundus cameras costing anywhere between `5 lakh to a staggering `80 lakh. But thanks to the brainwave of Dr Biju Raju, Vitreoretinal Surgeon at Dr NSD Raju’s Eye Hospital, Vyttila, retinal imaging can henceforth be done for as little as `67.

Biju has come out with a new concept of ‘Do It Yourself’ (DIY) smartphone fundus camera which is made of locally available materials. The achievement has been published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology and Kerala Journal of Ophthalmology and Vitreoretinal Society of India newsletter. The DIY concept was published under the creative common licence which means  everyone stands to benefit from this cost-effective innovation.

Based on the concept, Biju has also designed a commercial product called ‘HopeScope’, which is a universal smartphone fundus camera adapter.“We are planning to distribute 200 of  these devices to ophthalmologists across the country working in peripheral centres on November 14, World Diabetes day,” said Biju.