Glasgow: Early diagnosis of eye disease

Development opportunity | Licensing opportunity

Two medical scientists at the Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Gartnavel General Hospital in Scotland have an advanced eye screening system they say has the potential to save sight through early diagnosis of disease.

Stuart Parks and David Keating unveiled their system, which they describe as the equivalent of a cardiogram for the eye, at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology general meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this week.

The software developed by the two medical physicists provides diagnosis and monitoring of retinal problems at a very early stage, including tunnel vision problems, vein occlusions or blockages.

Representatives from Scottish Health Innovations Ltd (SHIL) will market its commercial potential.

Parks and Keating, both based at the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology within the hospital, have spent 14 years refining their system, known as multifocal electrophysiology. At its core is computer software which interprets many electronic signals sent from different areas of the retina.

This system takes measurements from several hundred areas of the retina and these signal responses offer a map of the retinal function,” said Keating. “From this information disorders can be detected at an early stage and their progress monitored.”

The advantage of this testing method is that it is an objective, said Parks. “All the other [tests] rely on what the patient tells you, and they won’t necessarily understand what the problem is. They certainly can’t explain where the defect is, whereas this technique is a valuable tool in assessing retinal function and detecting a range of eye disorders.”

As well as detection, the system could be used to monitor the toxic effect on the function of the eyes of drugs the patient is taking for other conditions.

To date more than 6,000 patients have been referred from all over Scotland to be screened with this system.

SHIL is the organisation set up to develop and commercialise new ideas from NHS Scotland staff. The aim is to take these ideas to market so they are available to improve healthcare on a wider scale, and at the same time making sure that profit is returned to the NHS.