As reported in the Courier, Optos has announced a commitment of up to £10 million in conjunction with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the academic teams at Strathclyde and Kent University to develop retinal imaging technology that will provide earlier detection of diseases and conditions that cause sight loss.

The initial stage will begin with a £1.1 million study funded by Optos and Innovate UK, formerly known as United Kingdom Technology Board. The study will focus on improving laser technology to track cell function and provide earlier detection of disease formation, so eye diseases can be treated in its earliest stages. With anticipated completion by the beginning of 2017, the earliest studies will focus on AMD, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

If these studies are successful, Optos will commit £9 million pounds to develop fully licensed retinal imaging technology by 2018. “We are delighted to play a key role in this collaboration with the NHS supported by clinical research,” said chief executive of Optos Roy Davis.

The intent of the entire project is not only to prevent blindness, but to prove that collaboration with the academic sector and other entities can provide new technology for enhancing patient outcomes.

With an estimated 7 million patients worldwide losing their vision — 80 percent of which are preventable with early detection — there’s great cause to improve diagnostic technologies. With our aging population, the number of people suffering from blindness due to disease is expected to double by the year 2020. If these technologies can be developed and put into place as soon as possible, vision loss can be prevented in significant numbers.

As a leader in retinal imaging technology, Optos is proud to be a part of this collaboration with the Academic Sector to help prevent blindness.

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