Occuity shares plans to launch handheld optical pachymeter in 2021

The medical technology start-up, Occuity, has announced plans to launch a handheld non-contact optical pachymeter in 2021.

The new device will make taking corneal thickness measurements quicker and easier for optometrists, with the founder and CEO, Dr Dan Daly, explaining that the company aims to “revolutionise the detection of glaucoma by making it easier, faster and safer.”

The company aims to provide a device with the measuring capabilities and non-contact features of existing desktop devices, but at a price competitive with existing ultrasound meters.

The handheld and non-invasive design of the Occuity pachymeter is expected to make it quicker and easier to use. Patients will not require eye drops, while the technology will be able to provide a measurement in under 10 seconds.

The process will be COVID-safe as there will be no contact with the cornea, reducing the risk of transmission, Occuity suggested.

The company also suggested that the device can be operated by non-clinicians.

An advanced prototype of the device is undergoing in-house testing, and the company is finalising the production version that will undergo clinical trials and CE marking in early 2021.

It is expected that the handheld pachymeter will be available in the second quarter of 2021.

Speaking to OT about the practice environments that might benefit the most from the device, Dr Daly said: “Most practice environments would benefit from a pachymeter, primarily in order to better understand the patient’s risk of glaucoma.”

As the corneal centre thickness (CCT) can affect the validity and accuracy of the intraocular pressure (IOP) measured by the tonometer, Dr Daly suggested: “Knowing the CCT will allow clinicians to understand if their tonometer is actually under or over-estimating the IOP.”

“Often it’s not known what the tonometer assumes corneal thickness to be,” Dr Daly commented. He said that while most non-contact tonometers assume a corneal thickness of 550 microns, others assume a thickness of 520 microns.

“If a practice is involved in glaucoma shared care, for example, they should measure CCT and provide this with their reports, along with IOP and sometimes ‘corrected’ IOP,” Dr Daly said.

Patients with thinner corneas are at a higher risk of glaucoma too, Dr Daly noted, suggesting that understanding the risk factors is important.

Other circumstances where CCT might be useful, Dr Daly suggested, would include the detection of Fuch’s endothelial dystrophy in post-cataract patients, detection or progression of keratoconus or other corneal ectasia’s, as well as assessing the stability of corneal grafts.

The in-house testing on the device, which is currently underway, is focused on the verification of the meter.

Dr Daly explained: “It will enable us to ensure that the meter functions correctly and has achieved its technical specifications.

“Clinical trials will be conducted in conjunction with partner universities and hospitals to validate the clinical performance of the pachymeter.”

After the launch of the pachymeter, Occuity plans to use its technology to deliver further handheld devices to make other optical measurements.

Dr Daly told OT: “In the first instance these will include pupillometry and keratometry but other features are on the roadmap.”

The development of the of the device was accelerated following a successful round of investment earlier this year, which raised more than £1m and enabled Occuity to continue product research and development, as well as invest in new appointments.