Saving Potential Glaucoma Patients! Promoting Accessible Visual Field Testing [PHINDEX Inc.]
Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in Japan. It is said that one in 20 people over the age of 40 has the disease, but it often lacks subjective symptoms, and by the time it is noticed, it has frequently become severe. A project using a new system that could become a savior for such potential patients is starting in Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture. The project is now underway in Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture.
The Need for Early Detection and Early Treatment of Glaucoma
(Implementation Field: Iyo City)
Glaucoma is a disease where blind spots develop in the field of vision and gradually expand. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness. While it is a common disease that can affect approximately 5% of Japanese people over 40 and about 10% of those over 70, only about 10% of those affected are receiving treatment. Most of the remaining 90% are not even aware they have the condition.
Why is this the case? One reason is the lack of subjective symptoms. In the early stages of glaucoma, the other eye often unconsciously compensates for the abnormality in one eye, so symptoms are frequently overlooked.
Another reason is that there are almost no opportunities to get tested. Because there are no subjective symptoms, people do not visit an ophthalmologist, and glaucoma screening is not usually included in general health checkups.
Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored. However, its progression can be halted with treatment. The key is early detection and early treatment. If given the opportunity, it is possible to maintain one's field of vision and eyesight for a lifetime.
Providing Testing Opportunities to Many People with an Innovative Visual Field Testing System
(Challenger: PHINDEX Inc.)
PHINDEX Inc. focused on this issue. As a leading company in medical systems, the company provides numerous products to medical institutions nationwide. They also focus on innovative equipment development and data analysis, and have a wealth of experience in ophthalmology solutions. This time, they launched a project using a new visual field testing system built with their products and expertise.
To create opportunities for people to receive glaucoma visual field tests even without subjective symptoms, it is effective to incorporate them into regular health checkups. Furthermore, since the incidence rate increases after the age of 40, effectiveness can be expected by implementing them in specific health checkups, so-called metabolic syndrome checkups.
Therefore, this time, it was decided to set up a visual field testing corner using the company's system at the venue of the citizen health checkup hosted by Iyo City.
Why is visual field testing not widespread?
General visual field tests use large equipment installed in a darkroom, which limits where testing can take place. For the person being tested, it is also a significant burden, as they must stare at a single point, which causes eye fatigue, the measurement takes time, and the accuracy of the operation of "pressing a button when a target is seen" is also questioned.
A new perimeter that allows for easy testing
The solution to these problems is the "GAP/GAP-screener". It is a new perimeter developed by PHINDEX Inc. in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering at Ehime University and the Graduate School of Medicine at Kyoto University, and they also hold a joint patent. It has been registered as a medical device and has already been introduced in multiple medical institutions. The compact goggle-type monitor can be installed anywhere. It uses eye-tracking technology to follow the movement of the eyes, and the examinee simply reflexively follows the light seen inside the goggles with their eyes. Testing can be done easily, accurately, and in a short time.
Leveraging the company's existing systems and expertise, it is also equipped with a viewer that allows for smooth reference to images and various data. Support for the examiner is also substantial.
If this system becomes widely adopted, the number of early glaucoma detections will surely increase dramatically.
Data analysis aimed at improving health and medical costs
The effects targeted by this project go beyond just discovering potential patients. By accumulating and analyzing data from examinations, we also plan to utilize it for analyzing effects such as regional health, extending healthy life expectancy, and reducing medical costs. We plan to conduct long-term and multifaceted effect verification together with Global Health Consulting Japan, Inc., a specialist in big data analysis in the medical field.
With glaucoma screening at the center, a large cycle is set to begin where citizens, as well as government and medical professionals, interact with each other to better cultivate health and the economy. We have taken a big step that holds new possibilities.
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