Fresh off its recent investments and acquisitions over the summer, Topcon Healthcare, Inc. announced the debut of a new dry eye disease (DED)-specific offering: the TERA Dry Eye Imager.
Where to begin?
We’ll start with the basics: TERA is a multimodal platform designed to detect, grade, and manage DED—assisting eyecare providers (ECPs) with identifying the underlying causes of dry eye and ocular surface disease (OSD).
- Specifically, the imager combines high-resolution imaging with robotic automation to “standardize capture and speed exams.”
- And importantly: It operates in alignment with the latest Tear Film and Ocular Society’s Dry Eye Workshop (TFOS DEWS) III recommendations.
Expand on this DEWS III component.
To be more precise, TERA is in compliance with the DEWS III framework by:
- Pairing and integrating patient-reported systems (such as via the Ocular Surface Disease Index-6 [OSDI-6] and Dry Eye Questionnaire [DEQ-5]) with objective measures
- Among them:
- Non-invasive tear breakup time (NIBUT)
- Ocular surface staining
- Meibography
- Among them:
- Offering high-resolution color imaging with patented diffused white light technology that visualizes the ocular surface and tear film lipid layer
- This minimizes glare and enhances image clarity
Got it. So what kind of integration does the imager come with?
From corneal topography to pupillometry, the system also integrates with a dedicated dry eye suite (and validated clinical grading scales [see examples] accessible via a modern interface).
The intent behind this: Involves “turning diagnostic data into a personalized, visual conversation” to help patients better understand their condition and treatment recommendations.
Let’s talk platform features.
TERA is equipped with a one-touch automated alignment, focus, and capture—and eye tracking, where applicable, to streamline image acquisition.
Plus, the system offers a guided focus for meibography and tear meniscus heights, as well as a rotatable monitor operational from either side of the patient for an ergonomic-friendly component.
How will this impact the clinical workflow?
Thanks to those aforementioned automation functions, TERA is designed to streamline practices’ workflow (saving on exam lane time).
How: By enabling delegation of dry eye pretesting and minimizing lengthy staff training time.
What other capabilities come with it?
- Corneal analysis, including a single-image capture of corneal topography, anterior corneal wavefront analysis, and white-to-white measurement
- Ideal for corneal irregularity diagnosis and monitoring as well as custom contact lens fitting guidance
- Dynamic and static pupillometry for measuring pupil size, centration, and light response
- Supports diagnosis and patient discussions
- Meibomian gland (MG) imaging and analysis to visualize and evaluate MG structure and loss
So! How can I learn more about adding this to my practice?
Reach out to a local Topcon representative to discuss pricing and availability by clicking here.