A Glimpse of the Future – Faster and More Accessible Eye Exams
A smarter eye exam for earlier detection of vision loss
The SMART-EMP project is developing a new kind of eye exam that uses eye movements instead of button presses. This makes vision testing faster, easier, and more accessible for more people. The project is a collaboration between public and private partners, including Erasmus MC, TU Delft, Purple Gaze Europe, the Rotterdam Eye Hospital, and optician Optiek TOM. Together, they aim to bring this innovative solution from the lab to the optician and hospital in the coming years.
Vision problems like glaucoma are a major cause of blindness, especially in older adults. In the Netherlands, more than 1.2 million people are at risk of vision loss, and this number will grow as the population ages. Current vision exams are slow, tiring, and hard to perform for children, older adults, or people with mobility or concentration difficulties. As a result, vision loss is often detected too late. There is an urgent need for faster and more user-friendly screening methods.
This project will develop a smart testing system that tracks how quickly people move their eyes toward light targets on a screen. It uses an automated decision system to adapt the test to each person in real time, reducing the number of measurements needed. The test is designed to work for everyone—no matter their age, background, or physical abilities.
The project will deliver a working prototype, ready for real-world testing in eye clinics and optometry practices. Clinical studies will test its accuracy, usability, and potential to detect vision loss earlier than current methods. Educational materials and software will be developed to support wider use. With SMART-EMP, eye care professionals will be able to test more people in less time—helping to prevent avoidable blindness and make eye care more efficient and inclusive.
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