Instrument adds assessment power

FDA clearance of the normative database was announced at Vision Expo West in Las Vegas.

The normative database, combined with the OCT instrument's new posterior pole asymmetry analysis and existing fovea-to-disc (FoDi) alignment software and active eye-tracking capability (via proprietary TruTrack technology), is designed to add to the power and usefulness of the instrument for glaucoma risk assessment and progression management.

"This technology is an important addition to our glaucoma assessment toolbox," Dr. Asrani said. "The combination of [the OCT device's] precision with the new normative database and the asymmetry analysis adds to our ability to detect glaucomatous changes as well as changes over time."

The normative database and asymmetry analysis are part of the instrument's Version 5.3 software. The proprietary OCT's platform features fovea-to-disc alignment technology (FoDi) that is designed to improve the accuracy and reproducibility of RNFL measurements by automatically tracking and anatomically aligning circle scans. The alignment technology helps overcome measurement errors due to patients' changing their head or eye position during scanning.

The alignment technology improves the data integrity of the normative database, according to Heidelberg Engineering. Using the instrument's proprietary eye-tracking technology, all scans in the database are aligned along the fovea-to-disc axis, ensuring point-to-point thickness comparisons.

"It's quite a robust normative database," Dr. Asrani said. "In my experience, if there is an abnormality in a patient's eye indicative of possible early glaucomatous changes, the database frequently identifies it."

Along with the normative database, the device's Version 5.3 software release also includes a posterior pole asymmetry analysis capability.