Engineers and ophthalmologists at Duke University in Durham, N.C., have created a robotic scanner to detect diseases in the eye, according to an Aug. 5 Medical Press report.
The new device combines an imaging scanner with a robotic arm that can automatically produce clear images of patients' eyes. An imaging probe in the scanner sends a beam of light into the eye to measure reflections within the structures of the tissue. This method can be used to reveal various eye conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.
The tool is reportedly more convenient for patients who may be physically uncomfortable with traditional imaging systems that require their head to be placed in chin and head rests.
The team of researchers have begun their next phase of research to refine the device's image targeting. They hope to soon capture eye images of patients with retinal or corneal diseases to test how the tool detects abnormalities.