EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/1312630
130 | EYEWORLD | DECEMBER 2020 P RACTICE MANAGEMENT Contact Habash: ranya@habash.net Singer: msinger11@me.com Freeman: brenlyn@bastionelevate.com the Oculenz. The patent claims include edge perimeter testing to identify areas of degener- ated visual acuity (scotoma) for patients with macular degeneration. As progressive tests are taken, the Oculenz algorithms automatically identify and notify the physician of a change or increase in size or shape of the scotoma. these, Dr. Singer thinks technology could be set up in areas where patients might be going anyway, such as grocery stores. The results from this remote examination/imaging technology could then be sent to the doctor to add value to telehealth visits. Overall, Dr. Singer said that remote testing and telehealth won't completely replace tradi- tional, in-office visits, in part due to the social component. "In our patient population, fear has kept them isolated, but going to the doctor is part of their social experience. But I think there will be a bigger niche [for telehealth] than there was before," he said. The perspective of Michael Freeman, JD, is that doctors had previously accepted remote diagnostic, testing, and treatment options in settings where it wasn't as feasible to have bulky equipment, such as military outposts or in some developing countries. "Now, it's just remarkable," he said of the shift in physicians' perspectives to broader ac- ceptance of these devices when possible during the pandemic. Ocutrx, for example, is creating an aug- mented reality headset (Oculenz) that has eye-tracking capabilities for medical appli- cations. The headset will be able to perform real-time visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual field, reading speed testing, and more. Mr. Freeman said when the pandemic hit, several of the KOL supporters of the company emailed him with interest in the technology's utility at that time, if it were only market ready. "It's something that I think the physicians hadn't thought of adopting before, but there was more of a push from the patient side. Now I think there will be more of a push from the physician and the patient side because … a lot of physicians [were] literally sidelined," Mr. Freeman said. Ocutrx received its third patent covering in-home patient visual field test taken within continued from page 129 Tests available on the Verana Vision Test application Source: Verana Health