Moorfields Laptop technology to aid global glaucoma diagnostics

Future diagnostic laptop technology to tackle challenge of early global glaucoma detection on first World Glaucoma Day

A team of researchers from the UK will reveal an exciting new development in the detection of glaucoma to a group of MPs in the House of Commons to mark the the first World Glaucoma Day.

Detecting glaucoma during a standard sight test can be problematic. The new Moorfields Motion Displacement Test (MDT) is reaching the final stages of development. It utilises a unique software programme to investigate the visual field (peripheral vision), one of three recommended assessments used in the diagnosis of glaucoma.

Glaucoma is the most common cause of preventable blindness. It is estimated there are 67 million glaucoma sufferers in the world, but over 50% of these are undiagnosed. This rises to 90% in the developing world.

In the UK, around 500,000 people are affected and half of these are not receiving treatment because they are unaware they have the disease, symptoms of which are not present in the early stages. The aim of this new test is to help tackle the challenge of early global glaucoma detection.

Designed to be effective, affordable and accessible to all, the Moorfields MDT software, which is in the final stages of development, will be run on a standard PC or laptop. Eventually, it is hoped that it will also be made available to download from the internet, enabling clinicians from all over the world, including those in developing countries, to use it as part of their glaucoma screening systems.

The new MDT screening technology, whose research and development was supported by Pfizer Ltd, is the result of a nine year partnership between researchers from Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, and a recent new collaboration with the Department of Optometry and Visual Science, City University London.

Ted Garway-Heath, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Moorfields Eye Hospital, commented, “The Moorfields MDT is a prime example of how universities and hospitals can work together to bring technological innovations to patients. Research helps us identify patients at greatest risk of glaucoma, provide better treatments for glaucoma and also monitoring for patients throughout the course of their disease.”

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Notes to Editors

If you would like to interview a senior consultant about the disease of glaucoma, or a member of the Moorfields MDT research team IN ADVANCE of the event on Thursday 6th March, or would like access to B roll footage of the technology in use, with comments from members of the research team, please contact:

Moorfields Eye Hospital press office: Beverley Bailey, +44 (0) 207 566 2424 / 07711 482 572 or Beverley.bailey@moorfields.nhs.uk

Resolute Communications: Ainsley Munce, +44 207 397 7077 or Ainsley.Munce@resolutecommunications.com

MEDIA NOTES

MOORFIELDS MOTION DISPLACEMENT TEST WEBSITE

WORLD GLAUCOMA DAY: www.wgday.net
World Glaucoma Day is a joint initiative by the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and World Glaucoma Patient Association (WGPA) designed to promote awareness of eye health and the importance of regular eye examinations to reduce the onset of glaucoma.

HOUSE OF COMMONS EVENT IN COLLABORATION WITH:
International Glaucoma Association www.iga.org.uk
RNIB www.rnib.org.uk

Key messages

• •Glaucoma is the number one cause of irreversible blindness worldwide
• Glaucoma is treatable and blindness can be prevented through early diagnosis
• Approximately 500,000 people are affected in the UK, half of whom are undiagnosed, and are therefore not receiving treatment
• Glaucoma is the second most frequent cause of sight impairment in the UK and a common cause of falls in older people
• High risk groups are older people (increasing risk over 40 years of age); those with a family member with glaucoma; and people of West African origin
• These groups should be made aware of the risks, and encouraged to request a glaucoma test from their optometrist
• Glaucoma has no symptoms in its early stages; people can lose up to 40% of their sight before they realise they have a problem
• More than 1,000 people a year in the UK go blind from glaucoma unnecessarily
• Fear of visual disability (going blind?) is the greatest concern for newly diagnosed glaucoma patients
• Many people are entitled to receive free eye tests for glaucoma. People who are over 40 and have a close relative with Glaucoma; those who have diabetes; are aged 60 or over; who live in Scotland; or who themselves (or their partner) receive benefits, family credit or pension credit
• The current system for identifying glaucoma in the UK clearly needs improvement. What is required is a system to enable diagnosis of glaucoma at point of contact in Primary Care
• The Moorfields MDT, developed by Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Department of Optometry and Visual Science, City University London, is a simple test that has the potential to meet current restrictions and allow diagnosis in a Primary Care setting