Validating the use of a stereoscopic robotized teleophthalmic drone slit lamp

OBJECTIVE: To validate the use of a mechanized remotely operated stereoscopic drone slit lamp (DSL) in assessing anterior segment pathology in ophthalmology patients compared with conventional slit lamp (CSL). METHODS: Patients were recruited from eye clinics at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Each patient was assessed by 2 examiners. Examiners consisted of ophthalmology residents and staff attendings. Each examiner assessed the anterior chamber (AC) depth, presence or absence of cells, and/or presence of flare of the patient first using the DSL, followed by CSL. Qualitative data were collected on the ability to assess corneal integrity, infiltrates, foreign bodies, epithelial defects, and conjunctival injection using the DSL. RESULTS: 48 eyes of 42 participants were examined using the DSL and CSL. No significant within-examiner differences in AC depth or cell were detected. There was substantial agreement between the DSL and CSL when assessing AC cell and flare (κ = 72.6 and κ = 60.4, respectively) and moderate agreement when assessing AC depth (κ = 42.5). The DSL compared with CSL had a sensitivity and specificity of 98.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 94-100) and 100% (95% CI 98.7-100), respectively, for detecting AC cell. The DSL had sensitivity and specificity of 100% (95% CI 97.5-100) and 88.2% (95% CI 80.2-96.1), respectively, for detecting AC flare. CONCLUSIONS: There was substantial agreement between the DSL and CSL when assessing AC depth, cell, and flare. Sensitivity and specificity for assessing these findings ranged from 88.2% to 100%. This DSL provides excellent capability for examination of anterior segment pathology in live patients, performing similarly to a CSL.