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With one eye covered, a person sits in front of a computer screen divided
into a grid. The subject stares at a central spot on the touch-sensitive
screen and, using a finger, outlines missing areas of the grid. The
computer records, processes and displays a 3-D image of the subject's
visual field. The test for each eye takes about 4 to 5 minutes.

"As NASA moves forward to establish a permanent presence in space, this
may be considered a breakthrough step for the creation of an autonomous
onboard physician," said Dr. Wolfgang Fink, physicist and senior member of
the technical staff at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
"It is a non- invasive, quick and easy process that gives astronauts and
physicians on the ground an almost instant auto diagnosis. This type of
technology will be useful for long-term space missions where early
detection and advance monitoring will be key to the health of the
astronauts."

Fink, a visiting research assistant professor of ophthalmology at the
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, developed the 3-D
Computer-Based Threshold Amsler Grid Test as part of his post-doctoral
research while at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, with
his colleague Dr. Alfredo Sadun, Thornton professor of ophthalmology at
USC. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

"This new test is not only more revealing than standard visual field
tests, but it is also much quicker and simpler than existing methods. This
test may make visiting an ophthalmologist cost-effective, convenient and
fast, giving the doctor a tool to do a better job," said Sadun.

This tool has been undergoing testing in clinical trials that began last
year at the Doheny Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine at USC. Trial
results show that the screening test helps detect a variety of eye
conditions, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration-- the two leading
causes of blindness. Early detection of these conditions and appropriate
treatment are crucial in preventing further loss of sight.

Caltech has filed a full patent on the screening test, and several
companies have expressed interest in licensing the technology that may
become commercially available as early as next year.
Future uses envisioned are: monitoring the effects of intracranial
pressure elevation in low-gravity environments and evaluation of possible
stroke onset and of acute and chronic stroke conditions.