Wearable device helps increase mobility for patients with central vision loss
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ORLANDO — ESight showcased the newest version of its head-mounted assistive technology here at Vision Expo East.
The eSight 4 uses hardware and cloud-based software to enhance visual information sent to the brain, allowing users with between 20/60 and 20/800 visual acuity due to conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and Stargardt’s disease to achieve 20/20 vision, the company said in a press release.
“It tricks the brain and enlarges images so the blind spot in patients with central vision loss goes away,” eSight Chief Commercial Officer Brian McCollum told Primary Care Optometry News/Healio in an interview.
The device is made up of a camera and lens system controlled with a touch pad on the side of the headset, which is worn like a halo. The wearer pulls the glasses down in front of the eyes for use. It can also be manipulated with a remote control or an app, which can be used to stream content for the wearer to view.
Patients can walk while wearing the device; it assists with commuting, seeing street signs or license plates for shared ride services, or grocery shopping, McCollum said.
“If you need to be active, it can go with you,” he said.
The battery lasts 2 to 3 hours, so three batteries can get the wearer through an 8-hour workday, he said. The batteries are replenished with the use of a wall charger.
The company is partnering with more than 100 distributors and between 80 and 100 low vision optometrist offices.
“We’re trying to find where these people present so we can get the device to them,” McCollum said.
The company is also working on obtaining reimbursement for the device, he said.
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