{"id":7292,"date":"2023-03-08T11:23:05","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T11:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/?page_id=7292"},"modified":"2025-10-01T12:05:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T11:05:00","slug":"otoscopy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/research\/otoscopy\/","title":{"rendered":"Otoscope and ENT"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Header Image&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2023\/03\/20230308-OtosopyBanner-scaled.jpg&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_center&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;2560px&#8221; height=&#8221;540px&#8221; height_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; height_phone=&#8221;320px&#8221; height_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Page Title&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#423f3e&#8221; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;2560px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|50px|10px|120px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;24px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_post_title meta=&#8221;off&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;off&#8221; text_color=&#8221;light&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; title_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;32px&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||5px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; text_orientation_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation_phone=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; parallax_effect=&#8221;on&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; border_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Row &#8211; Breadcrumbs&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px||0px||false|false&#8221; global_module=&#8221;7551&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][lwp_divi_breadcrumbs font_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/lwp_divi_breadcrumbs][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;3_5,2_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Txt &#8211; Who Training Manual&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>There is a strong and growing evidence base for the Arclight otoscope being equivalent in practical function to more expensive traditional devices. It has been highlighted in the latest (March 2023) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/teams\/noncommunicable-diseases\/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation\/primary-ear-and-hearing-care-training-manual\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WHO Primary Ear and Hearing Care Training Manual<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2023\/04\/20230424-Otoscopy.png&#8221; alt=&#8221;WHO Training Manual&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.who.int\/teams\/noncommunicable-diseases\/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation\/primary-ear-and-hearing-care-training-manual&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Img &#8211; WHO Training Manual&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Txt &#8211; Otoscope&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Comparative Studies<\/h3>\n<p>\u200bThe Arclight device is 3 diagnostic tools in 1: Direct ophthalmoscope, anterior segment loupe and otoscope.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2023\/03\/Picture3.png&#8221; alt=&#8221;Otoscope&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2023\/03\/Arclight-a-traditional-ophthalmoscope.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Arclight &amp; a traditional ophthalmoscope&#8221; show_in_lightbox=&#8221;on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Img &#8211; Arclight and Traditional&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Txt- Comparison&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Two studies have compared the Arclight otoscope with traditional more expensive devices. Both studies, one from the UK and one from Malawi, concluded that the Arclight is a cost-effective and appropriate substitute for orthodox otoscopes especially in resource poor settings.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31319018\/\">A mixed methods comparative evaluation of a low cost otoscope (Arclight) with a traditional device in twenty-one clinicians.<\/a> <em>Hey SY, Buckley JC et al.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/lio2.601\">Comparative evaluation of a low-cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi. <\/a><em> Katharine Balfour BSc (Hons), Amy McCarthy, Shi Ying Hey et al<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;3_5,2_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Establishing Ear Disease Screening Services<\/h3>\n<p>Based on the Arclight otoscope being an effective alternative to traditional devices the team in Malawi have used it to help establish their ENT services. This has led to combined eye &amp; ear screening protocols that use the Arclight.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5652500\/pdf\/bmjopen-2017-016457.pdf\">Feasibility and acceptability of training community health workers in ear and hearing care in Malawi: a cluster randomised controlled trial.<\/a> <em>Wakisa Mulwafu, Hannah Kuper, Asgaut Viste, Frederik K Goplen<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/260380688_Initiating_and_developing_clinical_services_training_and_research_in_a_low_resource_setting_the_Malawi_ENT_experience#fullTextFileContent\">Initiating and developing clinical services, training and research in a low resource setting: the Malawi ENT experience.<\/a> <em>Wakisa Mulwafu, Thomas Elliot Nyirenda et al<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7018009\/pdf\/pone.0229008.pdf\">Rationale and feasibility of a combined rapid assessment of avoidable blindness and hearing loss protocol.<\/a> <em>Tess Bright, Ian McCormick, Mwanaisha Phiri, Wakisa Mulwafu et al<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2023\/03\/Picture5.png&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Arclight Simulation Ear<\/h3>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,2_3&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2023\/03\/Picture12.png&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Picture12&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Image&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Recently the Arclight simulation ear has been evaluated and considered a highly valid yet low cost tool in otoscopy training.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1111\/coa.14015\">Comparative validity of three simulation platforms for objective assessment of otoscopy skills.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/10\/Video-otoscope.png&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Video otoscope&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Video Otoscopy<\/h3>\n<p>This paper from the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany demonstrates the potential for the Arclight otoscope to be used for acquiring video of the ear canal and tympanic membrane for the purpose of telemedicine and medical education.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12255373\/\">Evaluation of Arclight Frugal Smartphone Video Otoscopy.<\/a> Christoph R Buhr, Katharina Bahr\u2010Hamm, Christopher Seifen, Johannes Pordzik, Jonas Eckrich, Thomas Murray, Christoph Matthias, Andrew Blaikie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"et_pb_module lwp_divi_breadcrumbs lwp_divi_breadcrumbs_0\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lwp-breadcrumbs\"> <span class=\"before\"><\/span> <span vocab=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/\" typeof=\"BreadcrumbList\"><span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" href=\"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/\" class=\"home\"><span property=\"name\">Home<\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/span> <span class=\"separator et-pb-icon\">5<\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>There is a strong and growing evidence base for the Arclight otoscope being equivalent in practical function to more expensive traditional devices. It has been highlighted in the latest (March 2023) WHO Primary Ear and Hearing Care Training Manual.Comparative Studies \u200bThe Arclight device is 3 diagnostic tools in 1: Direct ophthalmoscope, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":0,"parent":3863,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7292","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/126"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7292\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/arclight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}