Project Undiscovered Vision Loss
To detect vision loss before we even know it ourselves.
Sørlandet Hospital is on the project's steering group, as the hospital's environment is working to explore opportunities for people with visual field loss to benefit from commercially available electronic glasses. Representative for Sørlandet Hospital in the project is doctor Harald Reiso.
A more detailed presentation of the project is given on this Norwegian Interreg website:
https://interreg.no/2023/05/skal-avdekke-synstap-for-vi-vet-det-selv/
The project uses a platform for scheduled eye examinations, analyses and data exchange provided by the Norwegian company Eyecheck System AS. They have telemedicine solutions for clinical collaboration within ophthalmology. Representative for Eyecheck is managing director Rasmus Heim.
The main goal of the project is to create new knowledge in the short term through testing innovative solutions that have an impact on the quality of life of residents (visual health), and to develop technology that can reduce healthcare costs (advanced eye check at the optician or at home, instead of having to travel to an ophthalmologist). In the longer term, the project may contribute to new strategies for detecting visual impairments, which could change the current infrastructure for eye health.
Extensive research is being carried out with approaches within health sciences, economics and sociology. In particular, cost-benefit assessments of planned interventions will be carried out to map out undetected vision loss in the elderly (aged 75 years or older, in Sweden and Denmark).
The project works in an interdisciplinary way with user-driven innovation to develop and optimize screening procedures to detect and treat undetected vision loss. There is a focus on business and user involvement in all phases. For health technology companies in the programme region, the project will contribute to the development of solutions that promote eye health.
The main partner is Region Zealand in Denmark, the Norwegian project owner is Sørlandet Hospital Trust, and in Sweden, Högskolan i Halmstad is the most important collaborating partner.