Seeing a new reality

(Image credit: AdobeStock/itchaznong)

Despite being a few months in, the year 2024 may still sound futuristic. In some ways, that is true. Technology continues to evolve, bringing options and opportunities to people with progressive vision loss and low vision. These advances are allowing people to stay independent and empowered for longer while reducing treatment burdens for both patients and providers.

OcuLenz headset

At the ShowStoppers event during the Consumer Electronics Show 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ocutrx Technologies gave a demonstration of the OcuLenz headset. This device is an augmented reality (AR)/extended reality headset providing the widest field of view at 72º and the highest resolution (2.5K per eye) in all of AR. It is designed to be a visual aid for those with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease.¹

The medical advisers for Ocutrx are from the US, Mexico, South America, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Asia. This has led to a global interest in this technology. To meet the global need for this device, the company has begun to accept preorders for the device and is collaborating with Medicare and insurance providers to ensure the headset’s affordability and accessibility. The commercial release of the OcuLenz is planned for Q4 2024.^1,2

OdySight mobile app

In January 2024, Tilak Healthcare announced positive results from its TIL002 clinical trial evaluating the OdySight mobile app. This app is a tool that allows patients to measure their visual acuity at home. The app is a prescription-only CE-marked medical device available for smartphones and tablets to allow patients to carry out regular monitoring of their visual acuity. Results are automatically sent to their physicians and will alert when a deterioration in vision is shown.^3,4

The app provides close monitoring of those patients affected by diseases that result in progressive vision loss. It also reduces patient treatment burden by decreasing in-office visits and decreases treatment burden on physicians with a built-in notification system to highlight patients with changes in visual acuity.^3,4

All_Aboard mobile app

For many patients with vision loss, there is a sharp decrease in the ability to perform tasks independently. In addition to the technology that can provide medical advancements and monitoring, apps like All_Aboard are empowering those who are blind or visually impaired to continue to navigate the world.

All_Aboard is a smartphone micronavigation app developed by researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston to assist users in finding bus stops. Used alongside mainstream GPS systems, users open the app when they are near a bus stop. Using the phone’s camera to detect street signs from 30 to 50 feet away, the app provides auditory cues to guide the user toward their destination. The app is able to recognize bus stops in 10 major cities/regions around the world, and with the use of artificial intelligence (AI), it will likely be able to expand to more locations.^5-7

Conclusion

In addition to these tools, technology continues to power new advances in AI imaging for disease detection, visual aids, and so much more. Stay tuned to ModernRetina.com for the latest updates in retina technology.

References

1. OCUTRX debuts latest AR/XR vision headset at CES 2024: revealing expanded uses, surging global interest, and new pre-order opportunities. Ocutrx Technologies Inc. January 9, 2024. Accessed January 15, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ocutrx-debuts-latest-arxr-vision-headset-at-ces-2024-revealing-expanded-uses-surging-global-interest-and-new-pre-order-opportunities-302029805.html

2. Crago SM. OcuLenz headset showcased at CES 2024 and available for pre-order as visual aid for AMD. Modern Retina. January 16, 2024. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://www.modernretina.com/view/oculenz-headset-showcased-at-ces-2024-and-available-for-pre-order-as-visual-aid-for-amd

3. Tilak Healthcare announces positive results from its TIL002 study using the OdySight app, which allows patients with retinal diseases to monitor their vision themselves. News release. Tilak Healthcare. January 22, 2024. Accessed January 22, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240122272676/en/Tilak-Healthcare-Announces-Positive-Results-From-Its-TIL002-Study-Using-the-OdySight%C2%AE-App-Which-Allows-Patients-With-Retinal-Diseases-to-Monitor-Their-Vision-Themselves

4. Harp MD. Tilak Healthcare announces positive results from TIL002 clinical trial evaluating OdySight mobile app. Modern Retina. January 24, 2024. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://www.modernretina.com/view/tilak-healthcare-announces-positive-results-from-til002-clinical-trial-evaluating-odysight-mobile-app

5. “All_Aboard” app effectively aids blind and visually impaired commuters in finding bus stops. News release. EurekAlert! January 29, 2024. Accessed January 31, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1032773

6. Luo G, Pundlik S. Widespread errors in bus stop location mapping is an accessibility barrier for passengers who are blind or have low vision. J Vis Impair Blind. 2023;117(5):396-398. doi:10.1177/0145482x231201807

7. Hutton D. All_Aboard app assists blind and visually impaired commuters in finding bus stops. Modern Retina. February 4, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.modernretina.com/view/all_aboard-app-assists-blind-and-visually-impaired-commuters-in-finding-bus-stops