Provides a quick, objective measure of accommodative function
in optometric & ophthalmological practice.
The UC-Cube is used to provide a quick, objective measure of accommodative function (focusing accuracy) in optometric and ophthalmological practice. This provides clinicians and researchers with a reliable and standardised method for determining if patient’s accommodative response falls within or outside normal ranges.
Problem being solved
Accommodation may be the most neglected aspect of children’s vision, since it is easy to assume that children have ample and active accommodation. Research has shown that the majority of children with Down’s syndrome and cerebral palsy have defective accommodative responses, even when distance refractive errors are fully corrected. When eye care professionals assess accommodative function they traditionally use methods which require the patient to discriminate between a clear and blurred image and to verbalise what they see to the clinician. This is difficult or impossible for many patients with developmental disability and therefore an objective method of ascertaining accuracy of focus is required for the diagnosis and management of accommodative problems in this vulnerable group.
Technology
This Ulster - Cardiff Accommodation Cube (UC-CUBE) has been developed in a joint effort by Drs Kathryn Saunders and Dr Margaret Woodhouse to provide a quick, objective measure of accommodative function (focusing accuracy) in Optometric and Ophthalmic practices. It offers clinicians and researchers with a rapid and objective clinical method to assess accommodative accuracy and determine whether this is acceptable or deficient compared with normative data. There is no other clinical tool on the market which offers this standardised objective method and associated normative data. The tool is targeted at a range of customers including hospital eye care services, private clinicians, optometric training institutions and vision researchers.
Benefits
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Suitable for clinicians, researchers and trainee students
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Simple and rapid judgement if a patient’s accommodative responses are ‘normal’ or a cause for concern
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Helps clinicians easily identify and manage accommodative problems particularly for patients with developmental disabilities
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Determines size of under-accommodation or over-accommodation if present
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Provides various illuminated targets calibrated for two distances, 20cm and 25cm to support testing of patients of various ages
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Clinical trials complete
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Sold successfully in the UK Market
Meet the Team
Professor Kathryn Saunders
Professor of Optometry and Vision Science.
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“ Dr. Kathryn Saunders graduated from University of Wales, Cardiff in 1988 and spent her pre-registration year at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. She gained a PhD from Cardiff in 1993, investigating the visual development of infants and young children, before moving north to Glasgow to lecture in the Vision Sciences Department at Glasgow Caledonian University. Dr. Saunders joined the University of Ulster in February 1998 and was appointed Reader in 2008. In 2010 she was appointed Subject Head for Optometry. She is a council member of The College of Optometrists and a member of the Learning Disability Sub-Group of the UK Vision Strategy ”
Dr Margaret Woodhouse
Senior Lecturer, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences
“ Dr Maggie Woodhouse graduated from the University of Aston with a First Class Honours degree in Ophthalmic Optics, subsequently completing her pre-registration period at Newcastle General Hospital. She then spent the next three years under Professor Campbell's guidance from the University of Cambridge, completing a PhD on contrast sensitivity, graduating as the first optometrist to gain a PhD outside of ‘ophthalmic optics’ as the discipline was in those days. Since then she has spent over 40 years in the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences at Cardiff University, where she has become well-known for her research into the visual requirements of children with learning disabilities, much of which has been pivotal to our understanding today. Dr Woodhouse’s research achievements were recognised beyond her patients and the profession when she was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s birthday honours list. She was recognised for services to optometry and for services to people with disabilities ”
See how it works
Contact
Enquire
If you are interested in finding out more information or purchasing the UC-CUBE please complete the enquiry form below
Professor Kathryn Saunders
Professor of Optometry & Vision Science
Biomedical Sciences Research Institute
T +44 28 7012 4433