A paediatric ophthalmologist in the UK has developed a new non-contact, hand-held device to screen for congenital cataract that – if shown to lift detection rates across 25 NHS hospitals – could provide a new standard of care.
In the UK, newborn babies are automatically tested for cataracts using an ophthalmoscope soon after birth. However, the test, which is not easy to evaluate – particularly in the eyes of black and Asian babies due to pigmentation – can miss a third of cases, according to NHS Cambridge University Hospitals.
As part of a study across several hospitals, babies’ eyes will be photographed with an additional digital camera called a Neocam, invented by consultant paediatric ophthalmologist Dr Louise Allen from Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.
The device is reportedly easy for maternity staff to use and the digital images taken using infrared light can be shared with other experts for a second opinion, even if they are some distance away.
If cataracts are present at birth, in the UK surgery is needed within the first few months of life to prevent blindness. Allen was frustrated at the number of cataracts being missed at screening or misdiagnosed, putting parents through needless worry.
“Parents have been very positive about the imaging test – it only takes a few minutes and causes no discomfort,” she said.
“Many have commented that it is nice to be able to see the images, understand why it is so important to screen for cataracts in babies, and feel happier that their baby may benefit from the additional screening test.
“There has been a lot of enthusiasm by midwives and research teams to participate and they are finding it a very rewarding study to run in their units, both because of the one-to-one contact it gives them with new parents, but also from knowing that the results may impact new-born eye screening programmes across the world.”
Since August 2023 more than 3,000 families have participated in the ‘Digital Imaging versus Ophthalmoscopy Study’ (DIvO), and now it is expanding with the aim of testing 140,000 newborns between now and August 2025.
“Eventually 25 hospitals will take part and if the results with Neocam show an improvement in detection rates, it could change the way eye screening tests are done across the UK – and worldwide,” a NHS Cambridge University Hospitals statement said.
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