As previously announced, Institut Català de Retina (ICR) took part in a pilot study that utilizes BulbiCAM as a tool for early detection of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness. As you can read on ICR’s website the article announces a study by ICR that utilizes the BulbiCAM to measure patients’ visual fields, a critical diagnostic parameter for glaucoma. The eye movement-based test is described as more comfortable and efficient compared to traditional methods, which often involve lengthy and uncomfortable procedures.
Link: https://icrcat.com/en/virtual-reality-detect-glaucoma
Recently the results of the pilot study were published in the Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS) journal, which delves into the effectiveness of eye movements in visual field testing for glaucoma patients. The study compares eye movement-based perimetry (EMP), conducted with BulbiCAM, with standard automated perimetry (SAP), the conventional method. Twenty-two normal eyes, 14 ocular hypertensive eyes (OHT), 10 glaucoma suspects eyes and 25 eyes with glaucoma were included in the study. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including standard visual fields (Humprey 24-2, Zeiss-Meditec, San Leandro, CA, USA), OCT nerve fiber layer images (Cirrus, Zeiss-Meditec, San Leandro, CA, USA; or Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and 2 BulbiCam 26-point test, and 1 BulbiCam 60-point test. Results indicate that EMP is comparable to SAP in terms of reliability and accuracy, suggesting that EMP could serve as a viable alternative for visual field assessment. The study also emphasizes the potential of such a device to make testing more accessible and less intimidating for patients, particularly those who may struggle with traditional methods due to physical or cognitive limitations.
Link: https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2798475
This pilot study underscores the transformative potential of eye tracking technology, the BulbiCAM, in ophthalmology, particularly for glaucoma diagnosis and ocular hypertension. By implementing BulbiCAM into clinical practice, healthcare providers could offer a more patient-friendly and efficient diagnostic process, which could lead to higher patient compliance and better outcomes. With the outcomes of this pilot study ICR evaluated that BulbiCAM in glaucoma patients showed promising results to classify them from normal eyes and significant correlation with other functional and structural tests. Further and larger studies are needed to establish its usefulness in glaucoma management.