On this, the first World Glaucoma Day on Thursday 6 March, a team of researchers will reveal an exciting new development in the detection of glaucoma to a group of MPs in the House of Commons.
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. This test will help us identify patients at greatest risk of glaucoma, provide better treatments for glaucoma and also monitoring for patients throughout the course of their disease.”
If you would like to interview either a consultant about 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 here.
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
RNIB
World Glaucoma Day