New app allows for self-testing.

• Position: Eye Disease - Brief article

A convenient device that lets patients who have a degenerative eye disease better track vision changes has been created with the help of an ophthalmologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. With a handheld digital device called myVisionTrack, patients can perform an accurate self-test in less than 90 seconds, declares Yu-Guang He, associate professor of ophthalmology.

"Many patients do not have timely eye exams and end up suffering preventable vision loss. Careful self-monitoring is critical because treatment for age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy is most effective when given at precise stages in the disease's progression."

Supplied as an app on an iPhone or iPod touch, the prototype device displays three circles on a screen, one of which is markedly different from the others. Individuals cover one eye, then touch what they perceive to be the odd-shaped circle on the screen. With each click, the differentiation becomes more subtle. The test then is repeated with the other eye. Results are stored in the device so scores do...