The new low-cost product is designed to help gather accurate readings of the field of vision of toddlers.

A technique for testing the peripheral vision of young children could be given a boost – thanks to the inventors putting it in the hands of Cambridge students.

Dr Louise Allen, a paediatric ophthalmologist from Addenbrooke's Hospital and Associate Lecturer at the University of Cambridge, and her colleague Dr Adar Pelah of York University have created KidzEyez. 

Now a group of students on the University of Cambridge i-Teams Programme, mentored by the IfM's Dr  Nikoletta Athanassopoulou,  are helping formulate a plan to commercialise the product and help market it to health providers

The new low-cost product is designed to help gather accurate readings of the field of vision of toddlers.

The prototype device is a first in its field. Although similar products are used to measure peripheral vision of adults, they are not suitable for small children.

Dr Allen and Dr Pelah's invention could become a lifesaver as potentially deadly neurological conditions - such as tumours of the optic chiasm and pituitary gland - can be picked up and treated earlier if visual field loss can be detected, preventing permanent loss of vision and neurological deficit.

I-Teams is designed to analyse the commercial potential of an emerging, breakthrough technology. Students are drawn from across the university including engineering and technology disciplines. For more details check the website http://www.iteamsonline.org 

Press release