Business and Innovation

Sitting Down With Daniel Palanker, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, and Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University

Google Glass is the latest iteration of wearable computers that use head-up displays. Here, we examine how it works and assess the potential contribution that Glass might make in the ophthalmology clinic.

Why I offer implantable miniature telescopes (IMTs) to my patients with bilateral end-stage macular degeneration.

How do you translate a good idea into a physical, purchasable product? Technical, medical, regulatory and business skills are a must, as is an immense ability to resist pressure – especially when your device measures it.

Retinal implants offer hope for the treatment of inherited blindness. Clinical trials of battery-powered subretinal and epiretinal devices have demonstrated that patients with retinitis pigmentosa, blind for many years, can once again recognize objects.

Free glaucoma simulation app reinforces the importance of taking medication. A recently-launched free app for iPhones and iPads will help newly diagnosed glaucoma patients better understand how the condition will affect their vision as it worsens, reinforcing the importance of taking prescribed eye drops and attending eye clinic.

The global obesity pandemic is causing a chronic cardiovascular and diabetic disease crisis. Advances in retinal microvascular imaging offer hope in tackling these problems… but are ophthalmologists ready for a prominent role in the fight against systemic disease?