iScreen Vision, a pioneering force in vision screening, recently provided valuable insights during an interview with Megan Webber and Helene Dameris from KnowTheGlow. Megan had recently had a chance meeting with Lisa Watson at the American Academy of Pediatrics (Orange County) Conference and right away saw their shared focus on the critical importance of early detection of sight-robbing conditions. Several of iScreen Vision’s core team, consisting of Director of Operations Lisa Watson alongside orthoptists and analysts, Erinn Enke, Marla Shainberg, and Barbara Salazar, shared their expertise and passion for advancing pediatric vision health.
Erinn Enke, a senior image analyst, and Certified Orthoptist with a remarkable 10-year tenure at iScreen Vision, detailed the company’s commitment to real-time, image-based screening. Erinn’s personal journey with amblyopia and strabismus, conditions that once required her to wear an eye patch and have surgery, led to her dedication to helping children overcome similar challenges. With near-perfect vision now, thanks to early intervention, she chose a path of clinical work that could help reassure parents and children that visual impairments can be managed, if diagnosed and treated early.
Marla Shainberg, another certified orthoptist and analyst, brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles at esteemed academic institutions such as Emory and Washington University. Marla specializes in working with children diagnosed with conditions like nystagmus (repetitive, uncontrolled eye movements) and infantile cataracts, highlighting her commitment to treating complex pediatric eye diseases.
Barbara Salazar, an orthoptist, a certified ophthalmic medical technologist and an analyst, has worked previously with the University of Florida and the Medical University of South Carolina and has spent years fostering meaningful connections with families and patients. She fondly remembers her patients’ progress and stories, and they are a constant reminder of the very real and important personal element of their work.
iScreen Vision’s mission aligns closely with KnowTheGlow’s objectives. Offering instrument-based screening tools with live analysts who read images in real-time, they prioritize accuracy and the early detection of sight-robbing conditions. While their focus is currently on the USA, their commitment to promoting pediatric vision health is unwavering and they look forward to one day advancing opportunities beyond our US borders. iScreen Vision advocates for regular screening for children aged one to five and emphasizes tracking changes over time to detect abnormalities. They are able to detect conditions that other devices on the market cannot leading to early referrals while treatment has the best potential outcome. The conditions screened for, the historical tracking ability and the direct team analysis set them apart from other vision screening tools.
Erinn Enke showcased the power of iScreen Vision’s technology during the interview, demonstrating their ability to maintain patient confidentiality while examining the total anatomy of both eyes. Their method involves capturing horizontal and vertical flash photos and assessing lid structure, size, brightness of the crescent, and refractive errors. Their high-definition monitors provide an enhanced view of the retinal red reflex, ensuring a comprehensive analysis.
Addressing the challenge of analyzing darkly pigmented irises, iScreen Vision acknowledged that the absence of a “red” reflex in such cases could complicate the process. However, their approach excels at determining the risk factors for amblyopia, beyond the scope of traditional eye chart testing. They can request additional images if needed, ensuring thorough screening. Leukocoria screening is not even addressed by most other vision screeners that are commercially available in the US. Hence, it was wonderful to learn about how the team at iScreen Vision folds in leukocoria screening.
iScreen Vision extends its services to pediatric medical practices, the Lions Club, schools and other non-profits. They emphasize proper training and offer retraining to users struggling with image quality. Their technology also proves invaluable for children with developmental delays, pre-verbal, or even non-verbal kids, such as some of those with autism, who may not respond well to conventional eye chart assessments.
iScreen Vision continues to work with its providers to lobby for the expansion of instrument-based screening coverage, which could have a significant impact eye screening nationwide. Their goal of making their technology accessible to all remains on their radar, potentially transforming vision screening practices across the board.
iScreen Vision operates at its highest capacity from June to October, conducting thousands of screenings daily. Their dedication to pediatric vision health and the continuous improvement of their technology exemplifies their commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of children nationwide.
