Beyond the Slit Lamp: Portable Ocular Imaging to Bridge the Diagnostic Gap in Sjögren’s Disease

Project Owner

Rachael Gordon, MD, PhD

Proposed Innovation

Sjögren’s disease (SjD) is nearly as common as rheumatoid arthritis, but it can take nearly a decade for a patient to be diagnosed — making SjD one of the most underdiagnosed autoimmune disorders. Because a key test needed for diagnosis requires an ophthalmologist and specialized slit-lamp equipment, rheumatologists cannot complete assessments during routine patient visits.

This project will allow rheumatologists to perform objective eye assessments in-office using low-cost portable ocular imaging. If proven successful, this alternative to the traditional slit-lamp examination could support earlier diagnosis and disease monitoring.

Improvements in Action

Researchers will compare images from the portable camera with conventional slit-lamp examinations to validate diagnostic accuracy. The device captures high-resolution images of the ocular surface, measures tear stability, and images the eyelid oil glands without the need for specialized ophthalmic equipment.

Once validated, images obtained in rheumatology clinics can be securely shared with ophthalmologists for expert review. Researchers also will develop a semiautomated image analysis process to quantify ocular surface damage and create a standardized image library to support future artificial intelligence (AI)-based diagnostic tools.

Intended Outcomes

If successful, the project could help diagnose Sjögren’s disease earlier, strengthen collaboration between rheumatology and ophthalmology, and make objective ocular assessment part of routine rheumatology care.