How Preventive Care Saves Eyesight

Holger B.[1] had no symptoms whatsoever. His vision was good, he felt healthy, and he simply took his optician up on the offer to have a digital eye exam. At the time, no one could have imagined that this decision might save his eyesight.

The high-resolution wide-angle fundus camera Cellview revealed abnormalities in the retina that had been completely hidden from B. The images were evaluated by an ophthalmologist via the Eye Health platform mira. The result of the Mirantus Report: Requires urgent further evaluation, with the recommendation to see an ophthalmologist immediately. The diagnosis: branch retinal vein occlusion, also known as ocular thrombosis—a condition that often develops without symptoms and, if left untreated, can lead to severe visual impairment or even blindness.

Thanks to the Mirantus network, B. was able to secure an appointment with a referring ophthalmologist in Hanover within the next day and could immediately begin the necessary intravitreal drug administration (IVOM) procedure. Without this structured collaboration, the wait for an appointment with a specialist would have been several months.

„Who knows what would have become of it otherwise“

The customer still remembers clearly the moment his optometrist told him about the abnormal finding: „At first, I thought it was just a chance diagnosis. I didn’t have any symptoms at all, and it was only because of the lucky coincidence that I was at Becker and Flöge that this came to light. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t had that exam.“ Today, his conclusion about preventive eye care at the optician’s is clear: „I would definitely do it. If an opportunity like this comes up, you really should take advantage of it. Despite the cost, I’d recommend it to anyone. You spend so much money on other things, and if an abnormality is found, it’s money well spent.“

Early detection can be crucial

For the ophthalmologist involved, Dr. Nikolaos Chrisoglou, FEBO, this case exemplifies the importance of early detection. „The insidious nature of a branch vein occlusion lies in the fact that it is often completely painless at first. Many patients don’t notice anything at first, even though a dangerous lack of blood supply to the retina is already developing in the eye,“ says Dr. Chrisoglou. If the condition goes undetected, it could lead to retinal swelling, hemorrhages, or painful secondary glaucoma. „In the worst-case scenario, permanent vision loss is a risk. Starting treatment early is absolutely crucial to stopping this cascade in time and saving the patient’s vision.“

High-quality images lay the foundation

This was made possible by the combination of the Cellview wide-angle fundus camera, Mirantus’s digital eye health platform „mira,“ and the ability to book an appointment with a doctor through the Mirantus platform. „In ophthalmology, wide-angle fundus images allow for a more comprehensive assessment of the retina, as they also capture the peripheral retina,“ explains Dr. Chrisoglou. “In this case as well, the wide-angle image helped to quickly assess the extent of the occlusion and recommend an urgent referral to a local colleague.”

This case thus confirms a key principle of modern digital eye care: The quality of care begins with the quality of imaging. High-resolution wide-angle images provide the foundation for detecting relevant changes at an early stage and for making medically sound assessments.

AI Alone Is Not Enough; Telemedicine Offers Benefits

This case demonstrates that modern eye care requires far more than the use of artificial intelligence alone. Certified AI applications typically focus on detecting specific conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, or glaucoma. Other pathological changes may go undetected. Mirantus’s telemedicine screening model therefore deliberately relies on the „human-in-the-loop“ principle: every examination is evaluated by an ophthalmologist. In Holger B.’s case, it was precisely this medical assessment that proved decisive. The venous branch occlusion in question is not among the conditions that many AI systems are primarily designed to detect. It was only the combination of high-quality wide-angle imaging, telemedical evaluation by a specialist, and the ability to schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist that ultimately made the rapid diagnosis and immediate follow-up treatment possible.

 Greater Expertise for Opticians

For EssilorLuxottica, this case is much more than just a single success story. It highlights the potential of modern, community-based eye care, in which opticians play a key role within the care chain. Together with Mirantus Health, EssilorLuxottica has developed a digital screening model that combines high-quality imaging, digital analysis, and close collaboration with ophthalmologists. Opticians thereby strengthen their expertise as go-to professionals for eye health, create additional opportunities for consultation, and set themselves apart from the competition in the long term. At the same time, customers benefit from local preventive care and rapid referral in cases where abnormalities are detected.

„This case clearly demonstrates the added value that modern eye care can offer through collaboration between opticians and ophthalmologists,“ said Michael Thöne-Flöge, managing director of Becker und Flöge. „With digital screening in our stores, we’re able to detect abnormalities early on and, if necessary, quickly refer our customers to an ophthalmologist. If we can help protect a person’s vision in this way, that’s the greatest success for everyone.“

Free Training and Live Demonstrations

Optometrists who would like to learn more about digital eye care can participate free of charge in the Mirantus Academy’s online specialist webinars. You can register online via the following link: [email protected]

In addition, EssilorLuxottica is hosting a Showroom Day on September 9 in Braunschweig and Munich/Grasbrunn, featuring live demonstrations of Cellview and the mira eye health platform. For more information or to schedule an appointment, interested opticians can contact their EssilorLuxottica representatives.

Source and further information: www.essilorluxottica.com