New technology from Senaptec improves eye-brain connectivity

Senaptec, an Oregon-based start-up, is bringing new visual training technology to the public to help both athletes and patients improve eye-brain connectivity.

Senaptec offers a full Sensory Station designed for use by professionals in sports training and medical facilities, along with the portable Sensory Tablet option.

The full Sensory Station trains patients in 10 visual skills: clarity, contrast sensitivity, depth perception, near-far speed, perception span, multiple object tracking, reaction time, target capture, eye-hand coordination and go/no go acumen.

“Senaptec products are like weightlifting for your visual system. In weightlifting, you strain and break down a muscle to rebuild it stronger,” Senaptec CEO Joe Bingold said in a press release from the company. “Our technology relies on a similar principle, resisting vision through ‘stroboscopic’ techniques, vision blocking and precision coordination drills, to help build strong new neural connections from the eye to the brain.”

The technology leverages stroboscopic training, harnessing strobe lights in specially designed eye wear that is then paired with on-screen training drills for maximum benefits. The products are already used by professional and collegiate sports teams and the military and have been installed in many athletic training facilities, according to the press release. Many optometry offices have also adopted the products to offer vision performance training to youth and amateur athletes.

The company sells two versions of Strobe eye wear, a Senaptec Strobe and a Quadrant Strobe, each complete with a companion app. The sunglass-like eye wear is easily used at home or during sports training.

Bingold said in the release that the company is pursuing more scientific studies to investigate medical uses for the products.

“We first started down the health care path when we saw our products being used to help with concussion recovery, which was an intersection between the sports and medical world, and it opened our eyes to a lot more possibilities beyond sports performance that we’re eager to explore,” he said.