Visual prescriptions more accurately

Víctor Rodríguez

Institute of Optics Daza de Valdés (IO-CSIC), Madrid, Spain

Currently, one in three people worldwide is myopic, and it is estimated that by 2050 more than 50 % of the population will be affected. Myopia is the most common refractive error and is corrected, like other defects of this type (astigmatism, hyperopia, presbyopia), by means of optical prescriptions, although in some cases, when myopia is high, it can lead to irreversible blindness.

To diagnose these refractive errors, the standard method is to assess visual acuity by means of a test in which the person must identify a series of letters. However, this method is inaccurate and requires a long measurement time as well as significant expertise on the part of the clinician performing the test.

In this regard, the researchers of this project have developed a new method, called direct subjective refraction, which uses an adjustable lens to generate rapid focus changes and a colour stimulus to diagnose refractive errors and determine the visual prescription, by means of a task that minimises the resulting chromatic flicker. This is the first subjective method that does not rely on the identification of letters to obtain a prescription, and is much faster and more accurate than the usual procedure.

With this project, the researchers will create a spin-off company to transfer this technology to society and thus revolutionise the diagnosis of refractive defects. Ultimately, they aim to commercialise this new technology through a new optical device.

SureVision

Stage 3