FALCO project: Comprehensive glaucoma prevention thanks to low-cost screening system

Glaucoma is wicked, because the disease often goes undetected until irreversible damage of the optic nerve has occurred. This makes regular eye exams even more important. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging method that facilitates an early diagnosis of glaucoma. However, traditional OCT machines are very expensive. That’s why the FALCO project aims to develop a more cost-effective system.

In this interview, Professor Uwe Oberheide, the project director at TH Köln, talks about the project’s objective and reveals how it could promote comprehensive glaucoma prevention.

Professor Oberheide, why is an early diagnosis of glaucoma, also known as a green star, so important?

Professor Uwe Oberheide: An early diagnosis is important because it allows you to delay the progression of the disease and minimize advanced damage to the retina. Early diagnosis and treatment can also protect the eyes against serious vision loss or blindness, making it imperative to have routine eye exams that check for glaucoma.

Apart from eye (intraocular) pressure measurement and visual field testing, an examination of the optic nerve head (optic disc) is another diagnostic option. In this case, the optic nerve head is evaluated via topographic or tomographic measurements to identify warning signs of damage that may indicate glaucoma.

The FALCO project aims to develop a low-cost diagnostic device for glaucoma. How is the system supposed to work?

Oberheide: Our goal is to design a device that is easy and safe to use. Using simpler technology is meant to make this possible. We plan to replace many of the expensive and moving components of a conventional OCT system with parts from the telecommunications and entertainment industry and software, without compromising measurement accuracy.

What role do algorithms play in this setting?

Oberheide: Our second research focus targets the development of new, custom-built algorithms. The device is designed to process the collected data and convert it into subsequent images. This procedure must always factor in sufficient data availability aspects to allow the detection of disease symptoms.

What are the advantages of this type of device compared to a conventional OCT test?

Oberheide: A cost-effective system could facilitate greater accessibility to health care exams, especially as it pertains to rural areas or communities that lack sufficient access to health care. Due to lower acquisition cost, optical eye glass stores and optometrists could also become a destination for an initial exam and thus help improve general health care quality.

What is a key factor when it comes to developing this type of diagnostic device?

Oberheide: When it comes to the development of a diagnostic device for glaucoma, it is imperative to strike the perfect balance between precision, reliability, usability, and cost-effectiveness by combining the right hardware and software components.

The project began in November 2022, and will continue through October 31, 2026.