The invention is a low-cost, portable in-vivo confocal ophthalmoscope (PICO) designed to capture microscopic images of the anterior segment of the eye and external eye structures without direct contact. The device is compact, lightweight, and capable of providing high-resolution imaging for real-time diagnostics. This ophthalmoscope can attach to standard slit lamp biomicroscopy, making it easy to integrate into existing ophthalmic workflows. It provides rapid, non-invasive imaging and enhances visualization of cellular morphology associated with diseases, aiding in early detection and intervention. The use of a superluminescent LED (sLED) further improves imaging speed and signal strength while keeping costs low. Background: Diagnosing anterior segment eye diseases, such as corneal ulcers, often requires a slit lamp biomicroscope for initial assessment. In some cases, a corneal scrape is taken for microbiologic testing, which can take 7-14 days for results. This delay may lead to incorrect treatments and worsened visual outcomes. Traditional in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), requires direct contact with the cornea, possesses a small field of view, and is expensive. Other imaging techniques like optical coherence tomography (OCT) lack sufficient resolution for cellular morphology, and previous portable confocal microscopes (PCM) had limitations in signal strength and required tissue contact. This invention overcomes these issues by offering a non-invasive, cost-effective, and higher-resolution solution that provides rapid, real-time imaging for point-of-care diagnostics. Applications:
Advantages: