SalVista
Overview
SalVista is developing a wearable intraocular pressure monitor to improve the diagnosis and management of glaucoma and expand access to care.
The Issue
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The disease mechanism is related to loss of retinal ganglion cells due to uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP). There is no commercially available tool to measure physiologic changes in IOP and many studies have demonstrated that IOP spikes often occur during non-clinical hours. The inability to appreciate dangerously high IOP can delay diagnosis, delay care, and therefore lead to unnecessary vision loss. Eye doctors need better tools for monitoring IOP outside of the clinical setting.
Approach
Salvista is developing a smart contact lens that utilizes self-sensing cantilevers to measure IOP. This work includes specific design of the device as well as defining the data acquisition protocols and diagnostic algorithms.
MTM Student Engagement
MTM students are working with the SalVista team at UCSF to develop and refine the prototype, design a digital health platform connecting patients with their eye doctors via the EMR, perform market and competitive landscape analyses, and develop a business plan.