Review of
Keeler Symphony
Q Series Digital
By Suzanne Czerwinski
FBDO CL
Have you ever tried to describe
to your patient exactly what their
dry eye looks like and the impact
this will have on wearing their
contact lenses? Have you ever
tried to demonstrate to your
pre-reg optometrist exactly
how to assess the depth of a
corneal scar? Photography and
videography is absolutely the
problem solver but deciding which
digital slit lamp is most suitable
is not an easy task. Birmingham
Optical Group very kindly leant
me a demonstration model of
the Keeler Symphony Q Series
Digital to assess.
The slit lamp itself is as easy to use
as the next, however does include
some extra features, which simplify
it even further. The built-in Wratten
filter allows a free hand to enable easy
image capturing and the LED light
source offers brighter illumination,
although on maximum illumination
patients report extreme brightness and
not necessarily reduced heat. At first
glance there appears to be a number
of extra-complicated buttons and
attachments, however, these only serve
to make the process smoother. The
illumination rheostat is built onto the
base of the instrument making it more
accessible while capturing images and
the background illuminator serves to
enhance the quality of the images.
While the instrument has dashboard
controls incorporated for image
capturing while viewing through the
eyepiece, it is actually easier to view
the computer screen and snap away for
greater image clarity. It’s not as easy as
you may think initially and takes some
practice and control to gain clear and
concise images and videos. Switching
between these two functions is simple
and video time can be adjusted for the
duration you wish. Freeze-framing a
shot from the video often allows for an
improved still image over attempting to
capture the ideal shot.
While I rarely use 6x magnification
through the eyepiece, I found myself
using this more than any other to enable
a wider view, particularly for lens
assessment. Higher magnifications were
more difficult to use while viewing the
screen as opposed to looking down the
eyepiece, unless the patient remained
extremely still, even on video mode.
For you instagrammers who like to
experiment with filters, the Kapture
program includes functions to alter
the colour and contrast, crop, zoom,
annotate, draw and flip the images.
The size of the screen attached to the
slit lamp was rather large and space
consuming, which may not work in
some consulting rooms. However,
viewing on a big screen provides
superior images for the patient and
clearer instruction for the trainee. Once
familiar with the program, it was simple
to add patient details and revert back to
the images captured. Would I purchase
this digital slit lamp? Absolutely!
January 2017 | etCETera 5