Rotating slit image camera TOPCON SL 45. New developments for simultaneous image acquisition by photographic and CCD-assisted on-line documentation.

In a first approach the photographic camera part of the SL 45 B has been replaced by a CCD camera (2/3" black-and-white camera/Teli CS 3440 CCD B/W Tokyo Electronic Industry Co., Ltd.) unit thus enabling direct image acquisition and computer assisted analyses. Images have a full length of 8.8 mm. The images can be taken with only the observation light, no flash is necessary. Thus, the images can also be recorded on a VCR performing a complete rotation of the slit and all lens sections can be monitored obtaining almost three-dimensional information about the lens transparency/cataract formation. The further improvement is the on-line imaging for all SL-45 cameras in having CCD acquisition together with the usual 35-mm film photography. This is very important for the documentation of the lens coloration and for measuring lens fluorescence. For this TOPCON SL 45 (new generation) we are using the '2nd Scheimpflug condition' located within the eye piece of a SL 45 which is taken with a CS b/w No. 8310 C (Tokyo Electronic Industry Co., Ltd.). It is possible to integrate the CCD system in all TOPCON SL 45 Cameras (1st and 2nd production charge as well as SL 45 B).