Fulton, MO -- (SBWire) -- 11/03/2014 --Visionarts Eyecare Center, a leading optometric practice in Fulton, Missouri has announced the arrival of the first device in the Fulton and Callaway County area to measure autofluorescence of the eye, a marker for uncontrolled glucose and diabetes. Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year, the ClearPath DS-120™ Lens Fluorescence Biomicroscope is a first-in-class, non-invasive tool designed to quickly and accurately measure autofluorescence through a six second scan of the crystalline lens of the eye. A significant number of independent peer-reviewed studies have suggested that elevated lens autofluorescence may be an early indicator of the presence of diabetes, and that measuring autofluorescence as a means of detection has the potential to catch diabetes up to seven years earlier than previous detection methods. Furthermore, unlike traditional forms of diabetes detection, no blood tests or fasting are involved and results are immediate.
Nearly 104.8 million Americans have diabetes or pre-diabetes, costing an estimated $250 billion annually. In its early stages diabetes shows no symptoms. Because of this, by the time diabetes is actually detected, it is often too late to control it by a simple change in lifestyle. Complications of diabetes, including blindness, kidney failure and amputations can be avoided with early disease detection and intervention. Dr. James W. Vann of Visionarts Eyecare Center explains, “With diabetes being at epidemic levels, this technology is useful for each and every patient. Currently, a blood test is not ordered until a health history uncovers certain risk factors. Because of this, diabetes often remains undetected until it is too late to be controlled by diet, exercise and lifestyle changes alone. With this technology, each and every patient will have the option to monitor their potential for developing the disease.”
The patient experience with the ClearPath DS-120 is simple, quick and painless. The patient looks into the device by resting his/her chin on a chin rest and placing his/her forehead against the machine. This automatically aligns the patient's left eye with the machine properly and he/she will see a red target inside the machine. After the technician has the eye perfectly centered, the test begins. After blinking several times the patient opens his/her eye as wide as possible for six seconds while a blue light illuminates and scans the eye.
The ClearPath DS-120 produces a quantitative result that is immediately available to the optometrist and patient, and can be electronically transmitted to a patient or referral healthcare provider. The device has a small footprint, sits on a table top, and employs an easy to use touch screen display that can be wirelessly linked to a practitioner’s electronic medical record system.
Visionarts Eyecare Center will be holding an open house on Monday, November 3rd at 7:00 PM in their office, located at 614 Market Street in Fulton, Missouri. Dr. Vann will be giving a presentation on the ClearPath DS-120, and those who attend will be given the opportunity to be scanned for free and obtain their real-time test results report.
In honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, Visionarts Eyecare Center will also be offering free Friday screenings with the new ClearPath DS-120 during the whole month of November.
More information about Visionarts Eyecare Center is available at http://www.visionartseyecare.com/, and more information about the ClearPath DS-120 is available here.
