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Focusing on Brains Rather than Eyes


Published June 1st, 2006 in News, Alternatives, Myopia.

The general apporach against myopia has always been to focus on the eyes, whether by wearing conventional spectacles or contact lenses, or going for invasive surgery such as LASIK. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. After all, myopia is an eye problem.

However, the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) is conducting small trials to correct myopia by targeting the brain rather than the eyes. This is done though a customised computer programme by NeuroVision, which trains the brain to intepret signals from the eyes better.

And the recepients of this LASIK alternative? Primary school children. Since children tend to “spoil” their vision faster than adults, such a programme would be an excellent means of stemming myopia right from the source.

However, targeting the brain is effective to only a moderate degree. You could probably dump your glasses with such a programme if you had a power of only 150 degrees. But anything more, and more conventional solutions are in order, whether LASIK, Implantable Collamer Lenses, or just plain glasses.

Nevertheless, a non-invasive and non-burdening means of attacking myopia is surely a Good Thing. More importantly, such a programme can instill awareness in eye problems, especially in children who have yet to wear glasses permanently. The earlier the better, right?
5/18/2007, 1:09 pm Link to this post Send Email to Myope5   Send PM to Myope5
 
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Re: Focusing on Brains Rather than Eyes


Press Releases & Archive

SERI Announces Promising Results of Pilot Trial on NEUROVISION - Neural Vision Correction (NVCTM), a novel approach to improving Eyesight without Glasses, Surgery or Drugs

In March of this year, the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) in collaboration with the Defence Medical Research Institute (DMRI) embarked on a 20 patient pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of NVCTM treatment in enhancing vision in Singaporeans with low degrees of myopia of -1.5 D (150 degrees) and below. The new and highly novel clinical trial aims to evaluate an innovative vision training programme which may have the potential to improve vision without the use of glasses, contact lenses, drugs or surgery in individuals with various eye problems such as myopia and amblyopia (lazy eye).

Although this study is currently still in progress, it seems clear that the technology does have the ability to improve visual acuity in our patients. To date, 75% of all cases, and 83% of those who have completed treatment have shown improvement in unaided visual acuity. The average improvement exceeds 2 lines of acuity as measured on a standard eye test chart, with some eyes improving as much as 5 lines of acuity. The overall average starting vision was just below 6/12, and the latest average vision is currently close to 6/6 vision.


What is NeuroVision Correction Treatment (NVCTM)?
NeuroVision's NVC vision correction technology is a non-invasive, patient-specific computerized treatment based on visual stimulation and facilitation of neural connections responsible for vision. NeuroVision's Neural Vision Correction™ (NVC) technology has been developed through research focused solely on optimizing performance of the neural or "back end" of the visual system, and is based on two decades of visual neuroscience research by a group of leading neuroscientists, whose work, which has been published in leading scientific journals such as Nature, relates to understanding how the brain processes visual information, how neural activity is related to visual perception, and how visual processing interacts with other neural systems. This background of sound and proven neuroscientific principles sets this technology far apart from other less scientific forms of purported vision training or eye relaxation exercises. The fact that no optical devices, surgery, laser treatment or drugs are involved in NeuroVision treatment also ensures maximum safety, as compared to current forms of vision correction, such as contact lenses, or laser surgery.


How does it work? The Neuroscience behind NeuroVision Technology
Vision quality depends on the ability of our eyes to capture visual images from around us, the transmission of this visual information to a specific area of our brain known as the visual cortex, and the visual processing that occurs within the brain itself. NeuroVision technology focuses on the visual processing occurring in the visual cortex.

NeuroVision's technology probes specific neuronal interactions, using a set of patient-specific stimuli that improve neuronal efficiency and induce improvement of contrast sensitivity function due to a reduction of noise and increase in signal strength. This improved contrast sensitivity function is then followed by an accompanying improvement in visual acuity.

Amblyopia, in which the visual function of the brain is underdeveloped in childhood, is characterized by several functional abnormalities in spatial vision, including reduction in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. However, there is plasticity of neural interactions even in the adult brain, and the treatment procedure developed by NeuroVision trains these neural interactions by efficiently stimulating the specific neurons and effectively promoting spatial interactions among these neurons.
In myopia, it is the optics of the eye that results in blurred vision, and the visual cortex and neural connections are normal. However, myopic individuals also perceive high spatial frequency images as low contrast images, i.e. their contrast sensitivity is also diminished, and NeuroVision technology is also likely to improve visual acuity in myopic individuals by enhancement of contrast sensitivity.
Clinically Proven Treatment for Adult Amblyopia (Lazy Eye), previously considered as untreatable

The technology has been clinically proven in the treatment of adult amblyopia (otherwise known as "lazy eye"), which until now has been considered untreatable - an FDA-regulated Randomised Clinical Trial with follow-up of up to 2 years shows good retention of visual improvement. The company has received FDA 510(k) marketing clearance indicating NVC for the treatment of adult amblyopia in patients 9 years or older in the US. The company also received a Medical CE-Mark to market its Amblyopia and Low-Myopia products in the European Union. Company products are also approved for use in Israel by the Israeli Ministry of Health - Device License Authority. Additional proof-of-concept studies have been performed in Israel, indicating the technology's potential to improve vision of subjects having low degrees of myopia.


Further Randomised Controlled Clinical Trials on Myopia and Amblyopia
Based on the promising results of our pilot study, a pivotal, full-scale randomized controlled trial involving 360 subjects will be conducted by SERI in collaboration with DMRI and SNEC in 2 Phases: Phase I will involve study subjects with low myopia not exceeding -1.5D (150 degrees), while Phase II will involve study subjects with moderate myopia between -1.75D to -3.00D (175 degrees - 300 degrees). Study recruitment is envisaged to start in December 2003.

SERI will further be embarking on a second randomized controlled trial on the treatment of adult and childhood amblyopia. Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is thought to affect up to 2% of the population, and was previously thought to be untreatable.


Other Pilot Clinical Trials
In addition, we will also be conducting 3 new pilot studies on other eye disorders to ascertain if NeuroVision technology can enhance vision in other conditions. These include 1) individuals with normal vision - the idea here is to see if normal vision can be enhanced to "supernormal" levels, 2) presbyopia - there appear to be a few presbyopic individuals who have undergone NV treatment who also report improvement in their near vision, and 3) enhancing vision in individuals who have previously undergone laser refractive surgery (eg LASIK), and who need further improvement in their vision.


Conclusion
NeuroVision presents an innovative, non-invasive vision improvement technology, currently the only existing technology of its kind, backed by strong scientific and clinical research. The Singapore Eye Research Institute is NeuroVision's preferred research partner to evaluate and develop new and pivotal clinical trials to enhance vision in a variety of visual disorders.

NVCTM technology seems to be one of the most promising technologies evaluated by SERI in recent years and has the potential to make a tremendous impact in the eye-care industry in Asia and worldwide.
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Re: Focusing on Brains Rather than Eyes


(NeuroVision) - Training The Brain To See Sharper
Date: 31-December-2004
 

"The ophthalmic industry has focused mainly on solving problems associated with the eyes, which are the ocular front end of our visual system," said Mr. Nir Ellenbogen, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President R&D for NeuroVision Pte Ltd. "However, the brain plays a major role in what we perceive. NeuroVision's technology is the first to improve vision, through enhancing visual processing in the brain. Basically, this technology trains the brain to see sharper."

NeuroVision has developed the Neural Vision Correction (NVC) technology. This proprietary technology improves neural processing at the visual cortex of the brain, by targeting specific neural connections. It can be used to treat adult amblyopia or low myopia (less than 150 degrees) in a specific and customised manner.

"The results of the treatment have surpassed my expectations," said Ms. Tan, a patient of NeuroVision. "When I decided to take up the treatment in the hope of achieving perfect vision, never did I imagine I would eventually possess super-vision in my dominant eye."

Patients receive a series of visual stimulations, which are image patterns on a computer monitor. With no surgery or drugs involved, there is no associated risk or negative side effects. Treatments are received for 30 minutes every other day, for typically 6 to 8 weeks. Patients can choose between a clinic-based treatment and a more convenient home-based treatment.

"NeuroVision's technology is based on more than 20 years of scientific research," said Mr. Ellenbogen. "Our clinical R&D partner is the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) and we have done a number of clinical trials with them. A joint collaboration is currently being done with NeuroVision, SERI and the Singapore Armed Forces, as a randomized double-masked trial on myopia. We are also planning to do a study to see whether NeuroVision can assist in reducing the progression of myopia in children."

NeuroVision Pte Ltd is the Singaporean subsidiary of NeuroVision Inc, a U.S. registered company founded in 1999. With its headquarters in Singapore, NeuroVision has its R&D, sales and marketing and operations based here. NeuroVision currently provides treatment through three affiliated centres in Singapore. Its first centre opened at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) in mid 2004. By the end of this year, the company will launch its first regional centre in Malaysia, followed by other treatment centres throughout Asia.

There is a huge market for NeuroVision in Asia. In countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, 70% to 80% of the population are myopic, significantly higher than the 20% to 30% rates in the Western world," said Mr. Ellenbogen. "Since starting operations commercially in June 2004, we have had about 200 patients sign up. This is growing exponentially and we expect to hit revenues of over US$1 million by end of next year."

The company adopts a franchising revenue model, licensing its technology to various ophthalmic centres, which treat the patients. NeuroVision receives revenues from a one-time licensing fee and royalties based on number of treated patients. The company has recently completed its third round of investments. Its investors include Bio*One, Temasek Holdings, Concord Ventures, Mandarin Opto-Medic Co, BioVeda Capital, AG Tech and Shamrock Holdings.

"We decided to base our headquarters in Singapore because our target market is in Asia. There is an excellent infrastructure here, in terms of both ophthalmic services and general business environment. Furthermore our collaboration with SERI made Singapore a natural choice. Next year, we intend to expand throughout Asia, and countries such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, India and Japan are good candidates. Once we have been well received in Asia, we will target the Europe and U.S. markets," said Mr. Ellenbogen.
5/18/2007, 1:11 pm Link to this post Send Email to Myope5   Send PM to Myope5
 


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