"Revolutionary Ophthalmoscope whose size and the cost belies its performance – a must for every ophthalmologist and clinician" - R D Thulsiraj, Aravind Eye Care System
Arclight is a breakthrough device for diagnosing eye disease in low-income countries. It is a lightweight, durable, solar-powered ophthalmoscope and also has an otoscope attachment – to look into the ears. Arclight is available to IAPB members through the Standard List for £8 (with discounts for bulk orders) - Let us know if you are interested.
Arclight has been developed with help from the Fred Hollows Foundation. The foundation has a history of supporting pioneering, low-cost technologies that have had a tremendous impact on avoidable blindness: the work of Fred Hollows and others, helped create low-cost intraocular lenses in the 1990s revolutionising sight-restoring surgery.
In 2013, the Foundation’s eye health workers in Africa, Asia and Australia tested the device and reviews were overwhelmingly positive.
Kenyan cataract surgeon Divinah Kisorio tested the Arclight on her patients in a remote village in Kenya. “I gave this equipment to my colleagues and they were very excited,” she said. ”I can diagnose various conditions in the eye just using this. I can even diagnose trachoma.”
Richard Le Mesurier, The Foundation’s Medical Director, said this instrument will make a huge difference to so many eye health workers in remote areas - and the communities they serve. “Upkeep is minimal, there are no replaceable parts like bulbs or batteries. Charging is via the solar cell or more quickly through a USB connection,” he said.
IAPB Feedback
IAPB sent the ophthalmoscopes to some of our members in Africa and India. Claire Studley-Scott is an Orthoptist with Addensbrooke’s Aboard in Botswana. She notes that Arclight’s clarity has their ophthalmic nurses “bowled over”. “This is [an] amazing [product]!” she says.
Colin Cook, Mauerberger Chair of Ophthalmology, University of Cape Town, shared 10 units with his fifth year MBChB students. While 3 didn’t work, the students found Arclight to be “useful and easy to use in a primary care setting”. The 3 units suggested the need for a possible re-look at “quality-control” in the manufacturing (The devices sent were test prototypes, the final product addresses this issue - Editor).
R D Thulsiraj, Executive Director, Aravind Eye Care Services, received 1 unit from IAPB. Arclight was evaluated at their hospital and an outreach setting; they were “very pleased with the handiness and performance of the ophthalmoscope”. He says this is a ““Revolutionary Ophthalmoscope whose size and the cost belies its performance – a must for every ophthalmologist and clinician”.
Interested in procuring the Arclight? Launching soon, Arclight will be available through the IAPB Standard List.
Know more about Arclight
Arclight has been developed with help from the Fred Hollows Foundation. The foundation has a history of supporting pioneering, low-cost technologies that have had a tremendous impact on avoidable blindness: the work of Fred Hollows and others, helped create low-cost intraocular lenses in the 1990s revolutionising sight-restoring surgery.
In 2013, the Foundation’s eye health workers in Africa, Asia and Australia tested the device and reviews were overwhelmingly positive.
Kenyan cataract surgeon Divinah Kisorio tested the Arclight on her patients in a remote village in Kenya. “I gave this equipment to my colleagues and they were very excited,” she said. ”I can diagnose various conditions in the eye just using this. I can even diagnose trachoma.”
Richard Le Mesurier, The Foundation’s Medical Director, said this instrument will make a huge difference to so many eye health workers in remote areas - and the communities they serve. “Upkeep is minimal, there are no replaceable parts like bulbs or batteries. Charging is via the solar cell or more quickly through a USB connection,” he said.
IAPB Feedback
IAPB sent the ophthalmoscopes to some of our members in Africa and India. Claire Studley-Scott is an Orthoptist with Addensbrooke’s Aboard in Botswana. She notes that Arclight’s clarity has their ophthalmic nurses “bowled over”. “This is [an] amazing [product]!” she says.
Colin Cook, Mauerberger Chair of Ophthalmology, University of Cape Town, shared 10 units with his fifth year MBChB students. While 3 didn’t work, the students found Arclight to be “useful and easy to use in a primary care setting”. The 3 units suggested the need for a possible re-look at “quality-control” in the manufacturing (The devices sent were test prototypes, the final product addresses this issue - Editor).
R D Thulsiraj, Executive Director, Aravind Eye Care Services, received 1 unit from IAPB. Arclight was evaluated at their hospital and an outreach setting; they were “very pleased with the handiness and performance of the ophthalmoscope”. He says this is a ““Revolutionary Ophthalmoscope whose size and the cost belies its performance – a must for every ophthalmologist and clinician”.
Interested in procuring the Arclight? Launching soon, Arclight will be available through the IAPB Standard List.
Know more about Arclight
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