Presentation

What is the Optonet Vision Unit? #

The Optonet Vision Unit (OVU) is an advanced web platform that offers a comprehensive range of vision charts, tools, and digital services for the assessment of visual function and binocular vision rehabilitation. Specifically designed for eye care professionals (mainly optometrists, orthoptists and ophthalmologists), this unit adapts perfectly to various clinical environments, including:

– In-person consultations: in eye care centres or clinics.

– Domiciliary visits: for patients with reduced mobility.

– Video consultations: facilitating remote access to visual assessment.

– Academia: Innovative charts for precise and reliable visual assessments in research and education.

What are the implications of being web-based? #

Online Access and Offline Functionality: The OVU is accessible online, allowing its use from anywhere with an internet connection. It also works offline, which is useful for domiciliary visits or in case of internet access loss.

Cloud Data Storage and Security: By storing data in the cloud, it allows easy and secure access to patient information from any device and location. Additionally, end-to-end encryption protects data from unauthorized access during transmission and storage, ensuring patient confidentiality and security.

Compatibility with Multiple Devices: The platform is compatible with nearly any digital device, including Windows and Mac computers, tablets, smartphones, and Android-TV multimedia devices. This compatibility allows professionals to use the tool on their preferred device, offering flexibility and convenience in vision assessment and training.

How to access it? #

On computers: Use the Google Chrome browser and visit https://ubm.optonet.es/

On mobile devices and Android TVs: Download the app from the corresponding store: App Store (iOS), Google Play (Android), or Amazon Appstore.

How is it calibrated? #

The Optonet Unit can be calibrated for any viewing distance with millimetre precision. Upon the first use on a device, the program guides the user through simple steps to calibrate the screen. The calibration is saved for future sessions but can be adjusted at any time through the configuration menu.

What is its utility? #

Guided Case History and Triage #

The case history is one of the most important parts of the eye examination. Various studies indicate that an accurate diagnosis can be reached in more than 70% of cases solely with the information gathered through a complete case history.

The OVU facilitates this process with an interactive and systematic case history tool called “Smart History”. This tool guides the professional in formulating specific questions based on the patient’s symptoms and assists in differential diagnosis, ensuring that no key details are omitted for an accurate diagnosis.

Eye Examination for Distance Vision #

The Optonet Vision Unit converts a conventional monitor into a digital chart screen for refractive, binocular, and ocular health examinations for distance vision. This system can replace the traditional chart projector or add another digital screen for special vision charts. Generally, a mini PC with Windows is connected to the back of the monitor for operation.

For binocular tests on a conventional monitor, red-green colour filters are used. With a passive 3D monitor, circular polarization filters can be utilized.

ETDRS Visual Acuity (VA) Charts #

The Optonet Unit uses ETDRS VA charts, recognized as the international standard for their higher precision and reliability. The program allows automatic calculation of visual acuity, letter by letter, facilitating quick and repeated measurements, minimizing errors, and increasing accuracy.

Additionally, it evaluates the variability in each patient’s responses through repeated measurements, enabling the detection of true changes in VA in the future.

Optonet provides an ideal digital alternative to replace ETDRS printed Illuminator cabinets in hospital settings.

Eye Examination for Near Vision #

Binocular and accommodative anomalies in near vision constitute about 25% of an optometrist’s work. One in four patients suffers symptoms associated with near visual tasks, and these numbers continue to rise.

The OVU transforms any conventional tablet (Android or iPad) into a digital chart screen for refractive, binocular, and ocular health examinations for near vision. The same tablet also functions as a remote control for the distance charts, allowing the professional to easily switch between remote control and near vision examination modes with just one button press.

Electronic Records #

The OVU includes a digital Patient Record that automates the collection and management of clinical data. With this tool, all vision charts results can be easily saved with a single click, saving time during the eye examination. Additionally, the data is stored securely online using end-to-end encryption to ensure confidentiality and allow professional access from any computer.

Binocular Vision Rehabilitation #

Automated Vision Training: The OVU integrates a complete range of automated exercises for vision training, designed to treat non-strabismic binocular disorders according to clinically validated protocols. These exercises do not require direct supervision by the professional, making them ideal for both in-clinic use and home training.

Vision Training at Home: Optonet offers a service that allows professionals to prescribe personalized treatments for patients to perform at home using any personal device (computer or tablet). Through the Optonet web platform, professionals can adjust and monitor exercises remotely, facilitating the follow-up of patient progress. This is especially valuable for patients recovering from strokes or managing convergence insufficiency. 

Convergence Insufficiency (CI): For example, convergence insufficiency affects approximately 5% of the general population and 20% of children between 8 and 12 years old who undergo an eye examination. Vision training over 12 weeks can significantly improve their comfort and efficiency in near vision tasks.

This innovative service allows eye care professionals to offer effective solutions to patients with binocular disorders without the need for investment in equipment or additional space in their clinics. Additionally, it represents an economic opportunity, as just a couple of treatments per year can cover the monthly fee of the OVU and provide additional benefits.

Paediatric Optonet #

Optonet offers the most advanced and validated visual testing platform for children aged 2 to 12. Optonet’s charts have been used to create the first Visual Acuity (VA) and Stereo acuity Percentile Curves for the Spanish paediatric population. These curves provide parents with a familiar and effective tool for tracking their children’s visual development, improving patient loyalty.

Optonet has recently incorporated “Kay Pictures” optotypes, recognized for their clinical validity and used as a standard in the British National Health Service (NHS) for evaluating visual acuity in young children who cannot cooperate with letter optotypes.

Additionally, Optonet has developed the “Broken Glasses” test, based on Landolt rings, to increase precision in measuring VA in children.

The measurement of VA and stereopsis is complemented by the evaluation of colour vision using the digital Ishihara and Farnsworth D15 tests, both adapted to paediatric needs.

Ocular Health #

Optonet integrates a complete range of charts to evaluate the patient’s ocular health. These charts include low contrast visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, potential visual acuity, colour vision, and neuro-macular assessment such as the red saturation test and the Amsler grid.

The Optonet detection perimeter (suprathreshold) stands out, allowing visual field explorations on any computer or tablet. Using the optokinetic fixation technique, which simulates a game, this tool is especially effective for patients with reduced concentration times, such as children, facilitating visual field examination in a playful and efficient manner.

Finally, the Vision Unit easily adapts to patients with various ocular pathologies, such as Low Vision.

Domiciliary/Bedside Visits #

The Optonet Unit is ideal for conducting comprehensive eye examinations outside the clinic. It is suitable for patients with reduced mobility, those institutionalized, or for vision screening campaigns.

This flexibility allows professionals to offer essential eye care services directly at the patient’s home or in remote locations, ensuring accessibility and convenience.

Video consultations #

The OVU incorporates an innovative video consultation service, developed in collaboration with the British National Health Service (NHS). This service allows video calls in which vision charts can be shown and administered remotely on the patient’s personal device (computer, tablet, or phone).

During a video consultation, it is possible to display any chart included in the OVU, such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual field, colour vision, and more. Additionally, by providing the patient with red-blue cardboard glasses, a complete binocular assessment can be performed, including heterophorias, vergences, fixation disparity, stereo acuity, and the Hess screen, for example.

The applications of ophthalmic video consultation are diverse and promising. They are ideal for:

– Monitoring visual acuity (VA) in amblyopic patients undergoing treatment.

– Managing patients dissatisfied with their ophthalmic prescription.

– Providing contact lens aftercare.

– Conducting vision training follow-ups.

– Evaluating computer vision syndrome directly in the patient’s work environment.

– Offering online video consultations via your website to attract potential patients.

– Addressing emergencies, among other uses.

This consultation modality is becoming one of the most promising digital solutions in the healthcare field, supported by the trend observed in recent years. Preliminary studies show that the results obtained in video consultations are equivalent to those of in-person examinations.

The charts are automatically calibrated in terms of screen and distance using artificial intelligence technology.

Remote Visual Acuity (VA) Monitoring (Self-test) #

The Optonet Unit has recently incorporated a pioneering service that allows patients to measure their visual acuity (VA) at home using their personal devices without supervision. This self-test is especially valuable for continuous VA monitoring in various patient groups, including those under myopia control, amblyopia treatment, contact lens users, children, and patients with other ocular pathologies such as optic neuritis and AMD, among others.

The tool allows scheduling VA measurements on a personalized calendar, similar to how vision training exercises are prescribed for home practice. This remote monitoring capability helps maintain close control over the patient’s progress, prevent or minimize visual deterioration, and strengthen patient relationships and loyalty.

Optonet combines multiple digital tools in a single platform, providing a comprehensive solution for managing and caring for eye health. This allows vision professionals to focus on what matters most: the comprehensive care of their patients.