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‘Red desaturation’ as an index for damage to the
optic nerve
Danielle Dan
Advisor: Assaf Gur, Dr. Omer Bialer
Medical Engineering
This project presents a new standardized method for
diagnosis of optic neuropathy. The project combines writing
easy to use ‘red desaturation’ test application, and
performing clinical trials for testing its effectiveness.
Optic neuropathy refers to damage to the optic nerve due to any cause. The main
symptom is loss of vision, with colors appearing subtly washed out in the affected eye.
The human eye is sensitive to red, so with optic neuropathy,
red-colored objects may appear washed-out or faded.
Red desaturation is a subjective, sensitive test for patients
with optic nerve disease. Red desaturation test methods
exist today are insufficient and do not provide a reliable
results nor provide information about the severity of color desaturation.
To improve the current red desaturation test in order to obtain a reliable index for optic
neuropathy, by developing a standardized red desaturation test application, which will
perform the test more effectively.
The standardized test method includes the use of a mobile device, virtual reality
glasses and a remote control that will connect to the mobile device via Bluetooth as
described in Fig 1.
1.
A remote control connected to the mobile device via Bluetooth. Allows the user to
control the mobile device placed inside the VR glasses and perform the test
comfortably.
2.
The mobile device positioned inside the virtual reality glasses. The VR glasses
provide full separation between the eyes and prevents surroundings interferences.
3.
Position of the virtual reality glasses while performing the test.
The clinical trials at Beilinson hospital lasted about two months, during which Dr.
Bialer managed to recruit 12 subjects for the study – 6 subjects with unilateral
optic neuropathy and 6 healthy subjects for the control group.
Fig 2 represents a comparison between the average red desaturation between the
eyes, for each test method and for each study group.
Following a statistical analysis of data,
it was concluded that either the test
method is not efficient and requires
improvement or that there are other
limitations in the performance of the
clinical trials affecting the results.
However, the standardized test method
provides a solution to the fundamental
problems inherent in the red cap test method.
The Test Application
1.
Opening
screen
This project presented a new efficient and user friendly red desaturation test
method.
The application could be based for further research in order to gain more
information which will lead to an earlier and accurate diagnosis of optic
neuropathy.
In this era of medical communications, adapting this test method to telemedicine
could lead to more effective diagnosis, while reducing medical labor and costs.
1
2
3
Fig. 1
Summary & conclusion
Results & Discussion
Methods
Objective
Background
2.
User
screen -
'Start test',
'Review
history log'
or 'Export
history'
3.
Remote
control
instructions
screen
4.
Device
placement
instruction
screen
5.
‘Choosing
tested eye’
screen
6.
Right eye
test screen
7.
User
history log
screen
Clinical trials results and Data analysis
3%
18%
23%
25%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Red cap test
Application test
Saturation percentage
Red desaturation test method
Average saturation difference between the eyes
Control group
Optic
neuropathy
group
Fig. 2