SLOPE: Structured Light Observation and Perception Evaluation Device for the Assessment of Macular Health

Overview

Our aim is to create a robust screening/early diagnosis device for Degenerative Eye diseases. It is the world’s first adoption of Quantum Laser Technology in Vision Sciences. This device is capable of performing macular tomography based on imaging and perception of structured light which helps assess the health of macula.

Commercialisation opportunities

Direct device sale to General Practioners/Optometrists/Ophthalmologists (Hospitals/Eye Clinics) Partnership with Pharmaceutical Co. producing medical device licensing deals with Optoelectrical Manufacturing Co.

Problem addressed

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness and visual impairment. Over 200 million people worldwide live with AMD. There are no current devices with normative data for early enough screening of AMD. Treatments like Photodynamic therapy, Anti-VEGF and AREDS 2 are available but not so effective for late stage AMD. Early diagnosis of AMD is essential.

Innovation

Very first incorporation of structured light toolbox into vision science. The device uses Structured light with various Quantized Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) states to test and quantify the entoptic perception ability of the patient which helps assesses health of the macula.
Imaging the retina using structured light allowing the assessment of the macular pigment density by characterizing the extent and resolution of entoptic perception.

Key impact

Early detection of macular degeneration (MD) is important to increase the effectiveness of currently avaliable treatments and slow down the progress of the damage to the eyes.
This Quantum structured light technology can be further developed to screen and diagnose other ocular diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, etc.
This technology can help creating a screening culture for general eye health. Incoporate this screening technology into regular medical check ups, especially for older adults.

Award

2025 ICT Startup Grand Award
2025 ICT Startup (Hardware and Devices) Gold Award
Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 2024 International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva
Special Prize of “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, Romania
Gold Medal at the 2023 Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions in Hong Kong

Application

Device in General Practitioners Clinics, Optometry clinics, hospitals for regular screening of ocular health
Device at elderdy homes and NGOs to screen paitents with higher risk of AMD
Approved US patent: Preparing a Structured Optical Beam for Human Observation (US11564562B2)

Project Members

Dr. Dmitry PUSHIN
Dr. Dusan SARENAC
Dr. Mukhit KULMAGANBETOV
Mr. Taranjit SINGH

Website

The InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) was established in 2020 as a research collaboration between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the University of Waterloo (UWaterloo) in Canada. It is located at the Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong. It is one of the research laboratories under the "InnoHK Research Clusters" initiative of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. CEVR is committed to developing technologies that prevent, detect, treat, and mitigate vision loss, driving ground-breaking research across three key areas: Preserving and Restoring Healthy Vision, Next-Generation Therapeutics, and Advanced Optometry Technologies. For further information, please visit www.cevr.hk.

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