Clinician-led, at-home vision testing coming soon to the US
LAS VEGAS — Scotland-based IbisVision, a developer of remote ophthalmic technology, plans to launch its IbisEngage and IbisConnect platforms in the U.S. by early 2023.
Laura Hillhouse, IbisVision marketing manager, told Healio that the company is working to encourage more accessible eye testing around the world.
The current platform offers remote testing for visual acuity, visual fields, color Amsler grid, motility and refraction through personal computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet, Hillhouse said.
“The entire patient journey can be done through IbisConnect, but at the end, the patient still goes to see the eye care professional for an eye exam,” she said.
The process begins with the patient completing IbisEngage online, entering personal and insurance information and filling out a history and symptom questionnaire. The patient is then prompted to schedule an online appointment with a provider who will lead them through the consultation and remote testing.
IbisConnect, the intuitive software, uses facial recognition to ensure the patient is always positioned properly, and the clinician remains with the patient through the entire session, according to company marketing materials.
After the online consultation, an appointment is made through IbisConnect for the patient to see the provider in the clinic for an eye exam, during which the doctor can log in to the platform to access data from the remote visit.
Hillhouse explained that the charge for the online consultation would be incorporated into the office visit. Individual clinicians license the platform from IbisVision.
“We don’t want to replace the doctor,” Hillhouse said. “It saves time when the patient comes in for the health check. It makes it an easier journey for the patient and can be done when and where it’s convenient.”
Hillhouse explained that IbisVision started with the idea of noncontact testing, which developed into a remote platform.
IbisVision and its technology has been established in the U.K. for a year, and it is now going through the FDA approval process in the U.S. Suprathreshold and stereopsis testing are pending, she said.
The company is looking to partner with U.S. doctors and also exploring partnerships with larger companies, Hillhouse said.
She noted that the IbisVision clinical and technical director and optometric consultants work to ensure the accuracy of the platform and clinical validation.
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