Smartphone Intraoperative Ophthalmic Recording
Designing and building a smartphone holder to facilitate recording oculoplastic and strabismus cases in the operating room without a microscope
EXPLORE THE PROJECT
Smartphone Intraoperative Ophthalmic Recording (SIOR) is a low-cost, portable system for recording top-down surgical videos during oculoplastic procedures.
Existing solutions integrated into surgical lights are limited by space and positioning.
OFARS securely mounts a smartphone above the surgical field without compromising sterility.
The system is built using a mix of off-the-shelf and 3D printed parts, costing under $50.
PROJECT GOALS
Button-activated delivery with stabilized drop placement.
The device uses a single-button interface to activate a miniature motor that squeezes and dispenses an eye drop. The eyepiece gently braces against the orbital rim and mechanically holds the lower eyelid open, ensuring accurate delivery directly over the eye. The device is completely powered by 4x AAA batteries. By removing the need for hand precision or squeezing force, the device makes drop administration easier and more consistent for users with limited motor function.
HOW IT WORKS
The SIOR is designed to securely mount a smartphone above a surgical field without interfering with sterility or workflow. It is clamped onto the side of the surgical bed and uses adjustable components to achieve optimal positioning for top-down recording.
The device allows surgeons or trainees to record surgeries from a consistent angle with minimal setup, making it ideal for educational, archival, or research purposes.
HOW ITS BUILT
SIOR was successfully deployed in multiple surgeries. The recordings yielded clear, top-down footage that captured relevant surgical details.
Design priorities—such as stability, ease of use, versatility across different OR setups, and a clear angle of view—were validated through real-world application.
The device has demonstrated strong potential as a scalable and repeatable solution for intraoperative video capture in facial and oculoplastic surgeries.
RESULTS
Setup
A) The smartphone is positioned above the patient’s face and extending from underneath the surgical drapes to maintain sterility. B) The smartphone is positioned adjacent to the surgeons in a non-obstructive manner and maintains sterility.
Intraoperative Recording
A) Image from a blepharoplasty surgery that can clearly delineate the surgical space, the instruments used, and the surgical techniques used. B) Image from an entropion repair surgery where the surgical space is clearly shown with the instruments and techniques demonstrated.
Refine arm articulation and camera angles for improved usability and image quality
Adapt the mounting mechanism to be compatible with a wider range of hospital beds and surgical tables
Extend the application of SIOR to other surgical subspecialties such as pediatric strabismus surgery.
Test the device to record strabismus surgeries.
The system is evaluated for use in a global health and teaching environment due to its low cost and flexibility.
FUTURE GOALS
PRESENTING THE WORK
I had the privilege of presenting our work at the ARVO 2024 with the title, “Low-Cost Smartphone Mount for Intraoperative Recording of Oculoplastic Surgeries”
SIOR has been showcased in clinical demonstration videos at the 2025 World Society of Ophthalmic Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery Conference in Istanbul, Turkey