Page 20 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition Jan-Feb 2020

GENETIC TEST FOR out when they are young and if there is a large-scale birth study.
CHILDHOOD SHORT- are effective suitable treatments.” The latest findings, published in
SIGHTEDNESS The research was carried out using the journal JAMA Ophthalmology,
data from the UK Biobank, which is could be the first step on the road to a
T he growing incidence of a major study into the health and genetic test for severe myopia.
short-sightedness or myopia
well-being of 500,000 people, and
Earlier, the Cardiff and Bristol
that usually develops during in a separate group of individuals team have shown that every year
childhood has been worrying and from the Avon Longitudinal Study of of education increases the risk of
researchers from the Universities of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), which developing short-sightedness.
Cardiff and Bristol have now devised
a test that could in future help to INNOVEGA’S EMACULA SYSTEM TO TACKLE
identify children at risk of developing INCREASING MYOPIA CASES
this common eye condition.

Myopia can be easily detected
via an eye test and corrected with
use of glasses or contact lenses and
it is important to treat it timely as it
increases the risk of eye disorders,
such as glaucoma, cataracts and
degenerative changes to the retina.
Treatments available at present
cannot halt its onset but can slow Innovega Inc., a developer Co-Founder and Chief Executive
progression – thus a genetic test I of stylish, lightweight Officer of Innovega.
could be the key to early intervention. wearable displays that feature a high-
A recent report from Baird Equity
The University researchers resolution, panoramic-field-of-view Research states that myopia affects
analysed genetic differences in more system for medical, consumer, and roughly 30% of the global population
than 700,000 individuals, allowing industrial application, has released and estimates that five billion people,
them to come up with a score to a roadmap outlining the company’s or 50% of the world’s population,
predict an individual’s genetic risk approach and mission to provide will be nearsighted by 2050. Higher
of myopia. a new solution for the visually
impaired by addressing myopia, or levels of myopia are correlated with
Professor Jeremy Guggenheim, nearsightedness, and how it affects increased risk of other eye diseases,
from Cardiff University’s School of billions worldwide. including glaucoma, cataracts,
Optometry and Vision Sciences, who macular degeneration, and retinal
co-led the study, informs that his “We believe our eMacula™ system, detachment, which further burdens
team could now identify one in 10 now on the regulatory path to FDA healthcare systems. Therefore, it is
individuals who were six times more market clearance, will offer patients predicted that the demand for vision
likely than average to develop severe with vision loss from myopia-related aids will continue to increase.
short-sightedness by the time they retinal degeneration an integrated “Myopia is a growing worldwide
reached adulthood. vision correction system that
combines lightweight eyewear with problem, and in severely myopic
Cathy Williams, a paediatric our high-resolution, unobstructed- patients who are visually impaired,
ophthalmologist from Bristol Medical field-of-view iOptik® smart contact the customary options of eyeglasses
School, who also co-led the study, lens. The initial target market, with or contact lenses simply aren’t
said: “A genetic test can be carried FDA market clearance, would be enough,” Mr. Willey continued. “Our
out at any age, so a test like this – for visually impaired patients who require innovative eMacula™ approach, once
a high risk of myopia – could give levels of magnification that are not cleared, will offer unparalleled quality
children who are likely to become very possible with existing contact lenses of life enhancement to patients with
short-sighted a head start if carried or eyeglasses,” said Mr. Steve Willey, extreme myopia.”

| JAN-FEB 2020 | 16 OPTOMETRY NEWS

January-February 2020 SK News IDML.indd 7 02/15/2020 20:25