A doctor in San Diego has started using Macro mode on an iPhone 13 Pro to get a better look at the eyes of patients. The popular feature on the new iPhone Pro models doesn't require specialized hardware and is very straightforward to use, making it a fast and simple way of checking on a patient. All of which means patients shouldn't be too surprised if their next ophthalmologist visit involves an iPhone centimeters away from their face.
Macro mode is really quite neat. Without using specialized lenses - as would be the case with a DSLR - the iPhone can achieve incredible shots with a focus range of up to 2 centimeters away. While these shots are unobtainable with a regular focal length lens or camera, the iPhone 13 Pro's ultra-wide lens doubles as a software-enabled macro lens, since it has an f/1.8 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. The feature is typically used for capturing smaller objects, such as closeup shots of spiders or flowers. Essentially, if it's small, Macro mode can probably take a pretty good photo of it, adding one more tool to the iPhone 13 Pro for on-the-go photographers.
Another creative use for the mode turns out to be the medical field. Dr. Tommy Korn, an ophthalmologist, has taken to using an iPhone 13 Pro Max for closeup shots of patients' eyes. On LinkedIn, Dr. Korn showed photos of a patient with an abraded cornea, highlighting the before and after results within a three-day period. Dr. Korn mentions in other posts some of the benefits that could come from using this kind of tech, such as remote macro shots remotely sent instead of in-person visits. The use of this technology could prove to be quite the gamechanger for diagnosing situations quickly and effectively, especially considering Macro mode is a free feature on a widely popular phone.
Using Macro In The Exam Room
Using the iPhone 13 Pro's Macro feature for eye examinations could prove to be a solid and effective way for diagnosing patients quickly, but there may be some concerns with this technique. Since the iPhone 13 Pro's Macro mode is driven by software, there could be an argument made that there isn't as high a level of detail as a professional slit lamp camera typically used in exam rooms. If used solely for examining patients, it could lead to misdiagnosis if the lens catches the light wrong or reflections in the iris and cornea show some phantom details that aren't really there, even with a really good display. In this sense, there's a fine line between using this feature for quick, non-urgent conditions and emergency visits where detail is extremely important.
As far as examining a patient's recovery from surgery in a post-op exam, Macro mode seems like a really useful idea. It's quick, easy, and provides enough detail for the doctor to get an overall idea of how recovery is going. Given some time, it wouldn't be surprising if iPhone, and smartphone technology in general, is adopted more often in the health field, and even beyond ophthalmology.
Source: Tommy Korn/LinkedIn