Handheld eye scanner could cut NHS waiting lists
A new handheld eye scanner using quantum technology could allow home tests and reduce NHS eye care backlogs.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A new handheld eye scanner developed by a British company could transform the way serious eye conditions are diagnosed and monitored, potentially cutting NHS waiting lists. Traditional OCT scanners are large, expensive and often require patients to travel long distances. The new device, roughly the size of a pair of binoculars, uses quantum technology to reproduce the functions of a traditional scanner on a chip smaller than a £1 coin.
The company behind it hopes that once the electronics are shrunk further, patients will be able to use the device at home, with results shared automatically with their eye doctor. A ten-year-old girl with uveitis, a rare condition that can cause blindness, has been attending Great Ormond Street Hospital every few months for scans. Her clinician said having more mobile equipment would be "phenomenal" for getting children the specialist care they need.
Delays for children are less common, but the technology is being designed with input from the hospital to ensure it works for younger patients. One in ten people on NHS waiting lists are waiting for eye appointments. The scanner could help address that backlog. However, refining the device and rolling it out at scale could take years. The hope is to help protect 20-20 vision by 2030.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| The device could allow patients to scan their own eyes at home in the future. | |
| The new scanner uses quantum technology to reproduce traditional OCT systems on a chip smaller than a £1 coin. | |
| Traditional OCT scanners are large and require patients to travel long distances to access them. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV News focused on the patient story and the personal impact of long hospital trips, while also explaining the technical innovation. The report used a child with uveitis to humanise the need for portable scanning, then explained the quantum chip technology and the potential for home use. It balanced optimism with a note that large-scale roll-out will take time.
- “Eye surgeons say a new handheld scanner could transform the diagnosis and monitoring of serious eye conditions to help reduce long waits for treatment.”
- “One in ten people on NHS waiting lists are waiting for eye appointments.”
- “Refining and rolling out at scale could take years.”
Broadcast Timeline
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