OCT 01, 2024
EURETINA 2024
Ophthalmology, Retina/Vitreous
At the EURETINA 2024 symposium, Dr. Stephanie Campbell, a renowned speaker, presented her research on “Quality Data Needs Quality Engagement: Using Gamification to Capture Clinical Data”. The focus of her talk was to highlight the limitations of traditional eye charts and to discuss her innovative approach to early detection of eye conditions using smartphone technology.
Dr. Campbell observed that traditional eye charts don’t provide comprehensive information beneficial for patients or facilitate early detection of conditions. Consequently, she has spent a decade working on a more effective solution: redesigning the eye chart to make it more responsive to disease and patient-friendly.
Her efforts culminated in the development of the OKKO Health App. The app is a patient-oriented tool for proactive eye care, converting a smartphone into a vision-monitoring device. The app incorporates vanishing optotypes, a technique borrowed from pediatric eye care, to detect foveal vision loss more sensitively. Patients interact with the app by playing simple puzzle games that test for vision distortion, like identifying a smaller circle misaligned with a larger one.
According to Dr. Campbell, the app has proven successful in engaging patients and collecting valuable longitudinal data. She found that the OKKO acuity measures consistently compared well with traditional ETDRS chart results in patients with AMD. The app’s strong test-retest repeatability and ability to detect neovascular events remotely allows for rapid treatment, preventing vision loss due to delayed treatment.
However, the journey to the successful deployment of the OKKO Health app was not without hurdles. The initial trial run with 50 patients at a UK hospital was disrupted when a coder edited the base code. This incident served as a valuable lesson for Dr. Campbell: never alter base code during a clinical study.
Further, she realized the importance of having different skill sets within the team at different stages of the project. The initial developers who create the technology may not necessarily be the right fit for scaling it into a medical device.
She shared additional insights from her journey, advising against forcing app updates on elderly populations. Clear instructions on the use and maintenance of the app should be provided from the start to avoid misunderstandings. She also stressed the importance of educating the team about the specific needs of the patient group being served.
Dr. Campbell encouraged clinicians to trust their judgment more and be more skeptical of external consultants during the regulatory submission process. This approach saves time, money, and reduces errors.
In conclusion, Dr. Campbell emphasized the importance of establishing a network, as one’s journey in innovation will inevitably be paved with more failures than successes. The support from colleagues is crucial to keep moving forward towards the vision.
Comments are closed for this post.