AAEP Annual Convention Salt Lake City 2014
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How to Use a Smartphone Camera for Ocular Photography in the Horse

Author(s):
Brooks D.E.
In: AAEP Annual Convention - Salt Lake City, 2014 by American Association of Equine Practitioners
Updated:
DEC 10, 2014
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1. Introduction

Smartphones are becoming quite ubiquitous and all have digital photographic and video capability (Fig.1). They are always with us. The imaging technologies of these smartphones are increasingly quite impressive. Utilizing these capabilities will allow rapid telemedicine consults and are accessible for owners for use in monitoring eye conditions. An unintended consequence of this photographic capability is it can allow veterinarians to view and image the adnexa, cornea, iris, lens, retina, and optic discof the horse.1–4 The technique mimics the distant direct technique of the ophthalmoscope. Adaptors, macro lenses, and other accessories also allow slit lamp photography and imaging of cytologic specimens. Software apps are already available to aid photography of the horse globe to levels that are, with a little practice, astonishing! The views with some smartphones are often superior to that of the direct ophthalmoscope. 

One major problem with ocular photography is how to properly illuminate the eye so that the camera autofocus can discriminate the tissue that is to be imaged (Figs. 2 and 3). Software apps are available to utilize the “flash” of the camera as an illumination beam to view the cornea, lens, and fundus. These light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are unfortunately very bright such that adjunctive methods are needed in some cases to reduce the illumination intensity.
 

Fig. 1. Smartphone cameras can be utilized to photograph eyelids, cornea, iris, lens

Fig. 1. Smartphone cameras can be utilized to photograph eyelids, cornea, iris, lens, and fundus of the horse.

Fig. 2. Smartphone is held close to the eye of the horse similar to a direct ophthalmoscope

Fig. 2. Smartphone is held close to the eye of the horse similar to a direct ophthalmoscope.

2. The “Camera Awesome” App

The “Camera Awesome” appa is compatible with iPhoneb and iPadc and recently released a version for Android phones. It is simple to use and allows the veterinarian to obtain both photographic images and videos of the horse eye. Some selective editing is possible. It does not allow dimming of the illumination beam such that a diffuser must be utilized (Figs. 4 and 5). Camera Awesome is easy to use, and this starts with the main interface. Most of the screen is given to image space with the vitals hidden away, easily accessed with a single touch.

Unlike the default camera app that comes with the iPhone, Camera Awesome allows for separate focus and metering points (Figs. 6–8). This is similar to using the exposure or focus lock on a digital single lens reflex camera and recomposing, without the need to recompose. Tapping the screen will recombine the focus and metering points. If you want to return the focus and metering points to the middle of the screen, a double tap anywhere will do.

On the video side, the controls are fairly simplistic and the Awesomize feature is not available. But the camera does have the ability to prerecord for five seconds before you hit the record button. This is useful if you are trying to get a horse to stand still.
 

Fig. 3. The retina and optic disc in this horse were imaged with an iPhone 4s smartphone

Fig. 3. The retina and optic disc in this horse were imaged with an iPhone 4s smartphone and the Camera Awesome app in video setting. The pupil was dilated with tropicamide and the room lights dimmed. The illumination light was partially blocked with a small piece of elasticon tape, the camera moved to within two centimeters of the cornea, and the video capture started. I emailed the video to my computer and used Microsoft Live Movie Maker to capture the image.

Fig. 4. The camera aperture is to the left and the light for the flash and illumination to the right

Fig. 4. The camera aperture is to the left and the light for the flash and illumination to the right.

Fig. 5. A piece of bandage tape acts as a diffuser to lower the brightness.

Fig. 5. A piece of bandage tape acts as a diffuser to lower the brightness.

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How to reference this publication (Harvard system)?

Brooks, D. E. (2014) “How to Use a Smartphone Camera for Ocular Photography in the Horse”, AAEP Annual Convention - Salt Lake City, 2014. Available at: https://www.ivis.org/library/aaep/aaep-annual-convention-salt-lake-city-2014/how-to-use-a-smartphone-camera-for-ocular-photography-horse (Accessed: 31 May 2023).

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