New technology to combat eye diseases

University of Liverpool has worked with PolyPhotonix, an SME developing organic lighting products and technologies, to create a product that can halt the decline of patients who have diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration.

The revolutionary treatment is Noctura 400, a non-invasive device that looks like a sleep mask. It projects light onto the eyes while the user is asleep. This protects the eye from oxygen starvation, which can lead to blindness.

The product is now sold commercially as part of monitored therapy in the UK, parts of Europe and internationally. It is currently undergoing clinical trials and there is interest from the NHS. Diabetes costs the NHS over £10 billion each year (around 10% of the total healthcare budget) and the cost of treating eye disease is around £4 billion.