The IRIS Retinal Vision Loss Simulator

There is nothing worse than experiencing an unknown health symptom and not knowing where to begin seeking answers. Unfortunately, this all-too-common experience leads to endless Googling and reading about serious conditions you may or may not have. 

Patients experiencing sight loss are at a particular disadvantage in this situation because describing sight loss is highly subjective, and reading descriptions of possible vision-related diseases can lead to more confusion.

In a perfect scenario, every patient experiencing symptoms of vision loss would be able to call their doctor or have simple access to a specialist, but the truth is that many patients (especially those in rural areas)  do not have specialists in their geographic region, and the testing required to diagnose them can be hard to come by. 

The Solution: Sight Loss Simulators 

The great news is that this gap in patient education has been recognized, and we now have vision loss (or sight loss) simulators at our disposal.

A sight loss simulator is an eyesight simulator tool that clearly and easily depicts the effects of early, advanced, and critical sight loss conditions. 

What are sight loss simulators used for? 

A sight loss simulator does not diagnose or treat eye diseases. Instead, it shows images that depict the vision perspective of a patient experiencing a disease, so the user can find real images that represent the vision loss they’re experiencing. 

What can a sight loss simulator represent? 

Sight loss simulators can provide a representation of multiple types of diabetic eye disease, including: 

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition caused by blood vessels leaking into the light-sensitive eye tissue. This disease is difficult to detect in early stages and often has rapid onset leading to blindness once symptoms are present, making it a crucial condition to screen for early and often. The onset of symptoms may present as blurriness in the central line of vision, and in critical cases, lost areas of vision may appear. 

Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to the damaging of the optic nerve. One particular form is caused by diabetes, called neovascular glaucoma. The visual experience of glaucoma includes slow vision loss through tunnel vision.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration can occur through “wet” or “dry” retinal deterioration, but the result of blurred vision is the same in either form. Macular degeneration most often results from old age, while diabetic macular edema is a related condition that is caused by diabetes. 

Hypertensive Retinopathy 

This condition is caused by high blood pressure and subsequent damage to the retina, which causes double vision and blurred sight. Much like diabetic retinopathy, this condition has no symptoms until severe damage has occurred. 

Epiretinal Membrane

This retinal disease can be associated with diabetic retinopathy. It is caused by the wrinkling of the retina and is characterized by objects appearing crooked or wavy. 

Cataracts

This condition is caused by the natural breakdown of the eye lens which results in cloudy vision, and can be treated with surgery if necessary. High blood sugar can contribute to an increased risk of cataract development, with one study showing diabetes can double the risk of cataract development.

The IRIS Solution 

The IRIS vision loss simulator provides a visual representation of each of these experiences, including a description of each condition and characteristic symptoms, various photos to view the condition in, and a toggle to view the image with and without the condition. 

The IRIS vision loss simulator is one of multiple simulators available. Talk to your doctor to explore options for simulators that represent other conditions, such as a retinal detachment vision simulator or a general vision loss simulator.

 

The purpose of this tool is to raise awareness about the symptoms of vision loss and to empower more individuals experiencing these symptoms to know what they are dealing with and find resources for treatment sooner rather than later. Many instances of blindness can be prevented by early detection and treatment, and specialized diagnoses and imaging systems play a role in that. 

For example, the sight loss simulator may help a patient with undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy recognize their need for further testing. This can prompt them to get a diabetic retinopathy scan and receive a diagnosis and vision-saving treatment as a result.

Whether you are experiencing symptoms of vision loss or not, remember to schedule your next annual eye exam and play a part in preventing blindness in your own life. 

 

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