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INNOVATIVE AMBLYOPIC CHILDREN MAY
DEVICE FOR DRY BE PRONE TO SERIOUS
EYE DISEASE DISEASE IN ADULTHOOD
DIAGNOSIS
A team of Australian A new study led by the University College London (UCL)
researchers has developed a researchers, has found that adults who had amblyopia during
groundbreaking device that could their childhood are prone to developing hypertension, obesity,
revolutionise the diagnosis of dry an increased risk of heart attack and metabolic syndrome in
eye disease (DED), a condition adulthood.
affecting up to one in five people As per a study reported in eClinicalMedicine, the researchers
over 50. The device, known as studied data acquired from more than 126,000 participants
Acoustically-Driven Microfluidic aged 40 to 69 years old from the UK Biobank cohort, who had
Extensional Rheometry (ADMiER), undergone ocular examination.
uses a “mini earthquake” effect
to analyse a tiny droplet of tears, During the recruitment process the participants were asked
providing a comprehensive questions to find out if they were treated for amblyopia in
diagnosis in just three minutes. childhood and if they still had the condition in adulthood. The
This innovative method excels, in researchers also inquired if they had a medical diagnosis of
diabetes, high blood pressure, or cardio/cerebrovascular disease
contrast to current tests, which can (ie. angina, heart attack, stroke). Additionally, their BMI (body mass
take up to 20 minutes and often index), blood glucose, and cholesterol levels were also taken into
involve dyes or filter papers.
account and mortality was tracked.
Led by Laura Downie from The researchers confirmed that from 3,238 participants
the University of Melbourne, with who reported having a ‘lazy eye’ as a child, 82.2% had persistent
support from Leslie Yeo at RMIT reduced vision in one eye as an adult. Their study findings further
University, the ADMiER device has revealed that participants with amblyopia as a child had 29%
undergone extensive development higher odds of developing diabetes, 25% higher odds of having
and testing. It secured three hypertension, 16% higher odds of having obesity and were also at
patents in 2022, with plans to increased risk of heart attack.
commercialise the technology for
global use. The device’s ability to First author, Dr Siegfried Wagner (UCL Institute of
quickly and accurately diagnose Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital), said: “We emphasise
DED is expected to address the that our research does not show a causal relationship between
widespread underdiagnosis of this amblyopia and ill health in adulthood. Our research means that
prevalent condition. the ‘average’ adult who had amblyopia as a child is more likely
to develop these disorders than the ‘average’ adult who did not
The new technique not only have amblyopia. The findings don’t mean that every child with
shortens the diagnosis time but amblyopia will inevitably develop cardiometabolic disorders in
also offers a cost-effective solution adult life.”
for eye care professionals. By
providing detailed clinical data The research was carried out in collaboration with the
on tear health, ADMiER promises University of the Aegean, University of Leicester, King’s College
to improve treatment outcomes London, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
and reduce the financial burden Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Moorfields Eye Hospital and
associated with dry eye disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and the NIHR BRC at UCL Great
ultimately enhancing patients’ Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street
quality of life. Hospital. The work was funded by the Medical Research Council,
the NIHR and the Ulverscroft Foundation.
14 | THE INDIAN OPTICIAN | JULY-AUGUST 2024 OPTOMETRY NEWS
