Eyecatcher 3.0 - Validating the Use of "Smart Glasses" as a Low-Cost, Portable Method of Assessing Visual Fields.

PURPOSE

Glaucoma requires regular visual field (VF) assessments. Eyecatcher 3.0 uses novel "smart glasses" hardware to provide a lightweight, low-cost solution, designed for use while unsupervised. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of using Eyecatcher for VF home-monitoring.

METHODS

Eyecatcher 3.0 consists of a smartphone, smart glasses, and wireless clicker. Functionally, it attempts to mimic the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA; - same task-instructions, stimuli, and outputs, but smaller field of view and luminance range). Five patients with glaucoma used Eyecatcher to test themselves at home for 3 months (both eyes, monocular, once-per-fortnight). Results from a reduced 24-2 grid were compared to HFA data collected in the clinic, and to normative Eyecatcher data collected from 76 normally sighted young adults. A subset of normally sighted participants (n = 16) also underwent two additional sessions of follow-up testing to assess repeatability. Usability was assessed via questionnaires.

RESULTS

All Eyecatcher tests were completed successfully (100%). There was reasonable agreement with the HFA in terms of mean deviation (MD; r = 0.85, P < 0.001) and observed pattern of loss. The HFA exhibited somewhat better repeatability than Eyecatcher (MD Coefficient of Repeatability = 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1-4.1 decibels [dB] for HFA, vs. 3.9, 95% CI = 2.8-6.1 dB for Eyecatcher), although this difference was not statistically significant. Average Eyecatcher test duration was 6.5 minutes (both eyes). Patients generally rated the Eyecatcher as easy-to-use, although specific concerns were raised by some individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Smart glasses may provide a feasible means of VFs home-monitoring. Eyecatcher yielded similar sensitivity values to the HFA, and most participants found the lightweight smart glasses acceptable to use. Further research is needed to establish diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE

Validation of a new method of glaucoma home monitoring.