The Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) has signed a licensing agreement that will see its algorithms for tracking and estimating refractive error incorporated into a world-first instrument for myopia management.
The Sydney-based institute will now exclusively supply its predictive algorithm technology to German-based ophthalmic instrument manufacturer Oculus for its Myopia Master device.
The system is said to be the first to combine the important measurement methods of myopia management, including axial length, refraction values and the central corneal radii.
“This license agreement is another example of the cutting-edge technologies that BHVI is engaged in,” BHVI CEO Ms Yvette Waddell said. “Our agreement with Oculus will see our research translated into more instruments that optometrists can use to manage myopia, globally.”
BHVI myopia program leader and manager of intellectual property Professor Padmaja Sankaridurg said the algorithm was developed from extensive datasets involving ocular measurements of eyes from children and adults. The project involves datasets from BHVI and collaborators such as the Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center.
“The algorithm demonstrates the growth curves of eyes from childhood utilising percentile curves and provides an indication of the eye length and refractive error of the eye at a given point in childhood/young adult. We are not aware of any other existing technology in devices that provide this capability,” she said.
Oculus unveiled the Myopia Master for the first time at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) conference last month.
According to the company, the device creates a myopia report for each patient and considers other risk factors such as myopic parents, and time spent outdoors or on near-vision activities.
The Myopia Master is said to fill a gap in the market where eyecare professionals previously needed to purchase at least two devices for myopia-related assessment.
An Oculus spokesperson told Insight the company could not yet provide an Australian launch date.
“I can tell you that the Myopia Master will be officially presented in Germany in January 2020, at the Opti [trade show] in Munich. It will be sold first in Germany, other countries will follow depending on the respective approval process. These processes are already in progress,” the spokesperson said.
Once approved in Australia, Designs For Vision confirmed it will be the local distributor, and is fielding inquiries now.
Oculus, BHVI and its collaboration partner, the Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center, will continue to work together to develop further functionality of the Myopia Master.
