M&S Smart System® VR Headset
We are excited about the potential applications for this device and look forward to the M&S VR headset helping patients who otherwise could not or would not receive needed testing.
NILES, Ill. (PRWEB)
July 07, 2023
Researchers at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences recently completed a pilot study showing that a virtual reality headset can be used to reliably diagnose and monitor visual field loss in glaucoma patients. This study paves the way for wider adoption of such headsets, which will not only make testing quicker and more comfortable, but also more accessible for patients with mobility issues. This in turn would mean better screening and early detection of glaucoma in vulnerable parts of the population.
The study was conducted by two University of Iowa researchers who compared performance of a Smart System Virtual Reality Perimeter (SSVR) from M&S Technologies with a more traditional testing device, the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA). The HFA is a large device that does not allow for examination outside the clinic, and which “can be uncomfortable for patients with limited mobility or large body habitus.” Contrastingly, the SSVR is a head-mounted device that many users are already familiar with through other contexts, such as gaming.
The study looked at a population of adult patients diagnosed with glaucoma or suspected of having early glaucoma. Each patient completed visual field tests with both devices in a random order. Test results indicate that the SSVR was just as reliable as the HFA for testing purposes, especially as glaucoma severity increases. Test duration was also shorter in all cases, and the majority of participants tested said that they preferred the SSVR over the HFA when it came to the visual field testing experience.
“We were thrilled to learn not only that the headset performed well, but that patients preferred it,” says Mike Umali, National Sales Manager for M&S Technologies, makers of the Smart System and SSVR. “Whenever you can make testing more comfortable for patients while maintaining accuracy, it’s a win for everyone—doctors, patients, and device makers.”
The M&S SSVR is commercially available for use in visual field testing as well as numerous functional tests. M&S continues to evaluate new tests to determine which vision tests can be accurately adapted to the virtual reality headset platform.
“The goal is to equip practitioners with another tool they can use to help patients,” says Umali. “We are excited about the potential applications for this device and look forward to the M&S VR headset helping patients who otherwise could not or would not receive needed testing.”
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, with an estimated 6 million people worldwide blind due to the disease and another 13 million suffering from moderate to severe visual impairment. Many of the same studies that derive these estimates also show that glaucoma can be avoided with early detection and timely intervention.
About M&S Technologies: Founded in 1990, M&S Technologies is a software development and device manufacturer, rooted in state-of-the-art software development, local manufacturing, and superior customer service. M&S is known worldwide for leading technological advancements in visual testing systems. M&S is dedicated to bringing high quality, extremely accurate testing products to eye care professionals, optometry schools, and universities.
For more information, please visit http://www.mstech-eyes.com/vr-headset.
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