oculometrics

A WINDOW TO YOUR BRAIN

Oculometrics

Analysis of eye movements, oculometrics, and pupil reactions, pupillometry, provides sensitive biomarkers for many different neurological disorders including neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory, and rare diseases.

Ophthalmic signs and symptoms are affected by multiple brain areas beyond the optic nerve and visual cortex, including the cerebellum, brainstem, cerebral cortex, and the basal ganglia.

This functional analysis can be combined with analysis of structural imaging, such as OCT, and neuroimaging, such as MRI.

MEASURING BRAIN FUNCTION

Challenges in today's diagnostics

Today, assessments of eye movements and pupillary function are performed by a wide range of healthcare professionals including orthoptists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, neurologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, and emergency medicine physicians. Examinations can be time-consuming and results are often subjective.

There is a scarcity of neuro-ophthalmologists around the world, leading to long referral times. The consequences are important and sometimes devastating for patients and reflect an opportunity to dramatically improve health equity.

A NEW APPROACH

Improving clinical assessments

We believe objective eye exams increase healthcare provider efficiency, reduce clinical error, and will support the early identification of ophthalmic signs of systemic diseases.

Automated examinations empower primary and secondary care providers by relieving the need for manual examinations, and even enabling telemedical practice.

Oculometrics enable longitudinal monitoring of symptom onset and disease progression, and provide essential measurements to support further workup and referrals.

See the science behind it

Visual processing and oculomotor control involve large areas of the brain. Therefore, the majority of disorders of the central nervous system show visual signs or symptoms. The basic circuitry of visual- and oculomotor processing is well known - please find here some interesting studies and articles.

Virtual Reality Pupillography swings the flashlight on Glaucoma Management

RAPD measurements reliably detected asymmetries in optic nerve damage in glaucoma patients. SAP and RAPD combined led to an improved prediction of RNFL thickness, as measured by OCT.

Study shows great potential to automate quantitative pupillometric tests

Researchers at the University Hospital of Bern, Inselspital, present an accurate, easy to use, and fast method to measure an Relative Afferent Pupillary Defects / RAPD. In contrast to today's clinical practice, the measures are quantitative and objective.

Diagnosis and classification of optic neuritis -
The Lancet, Aug 2022

Accurate diagnosis of optic neuritis at presentation can facilitate the timely treatment of individuals with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease.

Ocular motor study in patients with Niemann Pick disease Type C

Eye movement abnormalities are sensitive markers in neurodegenerative disorders. One such rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism is Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC), caused by a mutation in the NPC1 (95%) or NPC2 genes.

Oculomotor and Vestibular Findings in Gaucher Disease Type 3

This study shows neuronal degeneration of the brainstem and cerebellum with combined involvement of both supranuclear and nuclear oculomotor structures and the vestibular system in GD3.

Diagnostic Error of Neuro-ophthalmologic Conditions: State of the Science

Diagnostic error is prevalent and costly, occurring in up to 15% of US medical encounters and affecting up to 5% of the US population. One-third of malpractice payments are related to diagnostic error. A complex and specialized diagnostic process makes neuro-ophthalmologic conditions particularly vulnerable to diagnostic error.

Patient Harm Due to Diagnostic Error of Neuro-Ophthalmologic Conditions

Misdiagnosis of neuro-ophthalmic conditions, mismanagement before referral, and preventable harm are common. Early appropriate referral to neuro-ophthalmology may prevent patient harm.

The human resource crisis in neuro-ophthalmology

Neuro-ophthalmology is facing a serious human resource issue. Few are entering the subspecialty, which is perceived as being poorly compensated compared with other subspecialties of ophthalmology.

The neuro-ophthalmological examination

The neuro-ophthalmological examination constitutes one of the most refined and exact components of the clinical examination, often allowing precise diagnosis and formulation of a treatment plan even within the compass of the first visit.

A window to your brain