Equipment maintenance

As all (most) of us can attest to, maintaining mechanical objects (e.g., car) is important to ensure their smooth and continued running. Maintaining the ophthalmic equipment being used for the Jiri Eye Study is no exception. Each year JES' optical coherence tomography (OCT) instrument, visual field analyzer, A-scan ultrasound biometry instrument, and slit lamp undergo their annual preventative maintenance. Prior to our spring field sessions JES researchers from the Tilgnaga Institute of Ophthalmology travel to the field site with instrument technicians from the respective companies to conduct the essential maintenance and upkeep of the instruments. Poorly performing instruments may provide poor data or no data at all. Like all aspects of our study, this technical aspect is equally as important.

Tom ji (an important member of the research team) checks the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units. During the "odd" power outages we experience in the field, these UPS units are vital to maintain power to the ophthalmic instruments prior to starting up the generator to supply power to the clinic building.

Annual preventative maintenance for the visual field analyzer.

Annual preventative maintenance for the OCT instrument.