News

A new computer test to help optometrists diagnose glaucoma could be downloaded from the internet by clinicians from all over the world as part of their glaucoma screening systems.

The diagnostic software has been developed by researchers at Moorfields Eye Hospital, who presented it to MPs at the House of Commons on World Glaucoma Day on March 6.

The Motion Displacement Test (MDT) is in the final stages of development and investigates patients' visual fields, specifically their peripheral vision. It can run on a standard PC or laptop.

Eventually it is hoped the software will be available to download over the internet.

Research and development of the MDT programme was supported by Pfizer and is the result of a nine-year collaboration between researchers from Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology as well as a recent partnership with the department of optometry and visual science at London's City University.

Ted Garway-Heath, consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields, 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.'

● Watch the video shown to MPs at www.opticianonline.net

Providing exclusive eye care news, information and educational needs every week, including a FREE CET programme. Subscribe to Optician Print Edition.