Preventative Vision Screening Device Inspired by Octopus Vision

Innovation: Academia

University of Bristol

2021

Image: Klaus Stiefel / Flickr / CC BY NC - Creative Commons Attribution + Noncommercial

Sense Light (Visible Spectrum) From the Environment

Living systems constantly receive signals from their environment that help them survive. Light (in the visible spectrum) can come from other living systems (such as fireflies) or from non-living sources (such as the sun). Survival often depends on sensing and responding to challenges like low light conditions or light that has been altered in some way. Because basic survival is at stake, living systems must excel at meeting those challenges. A well-known phenomenon is how water bends light. A stork trying to catch a fish underwater can compensate for this bending effect so that when it strikes at the fish, it has a good chance of catching it.

Search this Function

Sense Light (Non-visible Spectrum) From the Environment

Living systems interact with each other and with their environments to gain information. Sometimes that information is in the electromagnetic spectrum. Wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum are also called the non-visible spectrum, because humans can’t detect them with the naked eye. These include ultraviolet (UV) light, infrared (IR) light, radio waves, and other wavelengths. Detecting within these spectra requires strategies beyond those used for visible light, so many living systems that depend on these signals have specialized organs to do so. For example, beetles that feed on burned trees have sensory organs that detect infrared radiation emitted by fires, enabling them to quickly locate a burned area.

Search this Function

Vision screening device from University of Bristol uses thresholds of polarized light to assess the presence (or lack) of macular pigments in human eyes, a fast method to diagnose future vision problems.

Benefits

Faster
Compact
Straightforward

Applications

Medical diagnosis
Medical treatment

UN Sustainable Development Goals Addressed

Goal 3: Good Health & Wellbeing

The Challenge

Age related macular degeneration is an eye disease that can lead to incurable blindness. It is estimated that over 288 million people may be effected by the disease by 2050. Current screening methods for low macular levels, one of the main causes of the disease, are time consuming and expensive.

Innovation Details

The vision screening device, also known as an ophthalmic medical device, measures the presence of macular pigments in human eyes. The device is easily added to conventional eye tests and measures the response of the eyes to different thresholds of polarized light. These measurements can then be correlated to the quantity of mascular pigments present in the eye, which is an indicator of risk for vision loss later in life. With the results, patients can take preventative measures earlier in life, decreasing the probability of sight loss.

Biomimicry Story

Octopuses display bright patterns on their skin despite being colorblind (they are only able to see a shades of grey). What their vision lacks in seeing color is made up through their unique ability to detect polarized light. Octopuses use this polarized light to camouflage and hide from predators.

See Related Strategy

a mourning cuttlefish with yellow skin and eyes closing is seen underwater

Biological Strategy

High-resolution Polarisation Improves Vision

Striking cuttlefish

Eyes of the mourning cuttlefish provide high definition polarization vision due to the orthogonal arrangement of microvilli in photosensitive rhabdoms.

References

Journal article

Thresholds of polarization vision in octopuses

Journal of Experimental Biology

embedly preview

AskNature