A new app has been launched to support eye test screening at home for children across Cambridgeshire.
Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge has collaborated with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthy Child programme screening team, Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council to launch the app for children and adults who may have missed eye screening during restrictions because of the pandemic.
The app, called ‘DigiVis’ is available for children and adults to use at home and measures vision at a two-metre distance.
It allows you to test your vision at home, similar to a typical test performed in a clinic; instead of reading out the letters to a clinician, you enter the letters into a separate device, and the measurement comes from there.
Andrea Graves, Service Lead, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthy Child Programme, said: “Working in collaboration with our colleagues across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has been fantastic. By sharing our resources and expertise, we can ensure children are not missing out on a vital check early in their development.”
Dr Louise Allen, consultant paediatric ophthalmologist, CUH, added: “It can be difficult for parents to detect if their child has reduced vision, but early treatment is crucial, making screening really important. Using digital technology will allow us to reach those children whose screening has been disrupted by the Covid crisis, to ensure that they don’t miss out.”
The Paediatric Ophthalmology Team at Addenbrooke’s developed and clinically tested the app and it has recently CE marked, meeting European health and safety requirements.
Dr Allen demonstrates in this video:
