Using a smartphone-based digital fundus camera for screening of retinal and optic nerve diseases in veterinary medicine: A preliminary investigation

Background: Ophthalmoscopy is a valuable tool in clinical practice. We report the use of a novel smartphone-based handheld device for visualisation and photo-documentation of the ocular fundus in veterinary medicine. Methods: Selected veterinary patients of a referral ophthalmology service were included if one or both eyes had clear ocular media, allowing for examination of the fundus. Following pharmacological mydriasis, fundic images were obtained with a handheld fundus camera (Volk VistaView). For comparison, the fundus of a subset of animals was also imaged with a veterinary-specific fundus camera (Optomed Smartscope VET2). Results: The large field of view achieved by the Volk VistaView allowed for rapid and thorough observation of the ocular fundus in animals, providing a tool to visualise and record common pathologies of the posterior segment. Captured fundic images were sometimes overexposed, with the tapetal fundus artificially appearing hyperreflective when using the Volk VistaView camera, a finding that was less frequent when activating a ‘veterinary mode’ that reduced the sensitivity of the camera's sensor. The Volk VistaView compared well with the Optomed Smartscope VET2. Limitation: The main study limitation was the small sample size. Conclusions: The Volk VistaView camera was easy to use and provided good-quality fundic images in veterinary patients with healthy or diseased eyes, offering a wide field of view that was ideal for screening purposes.