Siloton, the Bristol-based health technology startup, has trialled its Akepa device – a first-generation optical coherence tomography (OCT) chip – with an initial group of patients, imaging their retinas to identify the presence and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is the first time patients have used the technology in any setting, with the results verified by an independent optometrist.

Akepa has been designed to work as part of an easy-to-use binocular-style system that patients can use in community centres or at home, instead of having to attend hospital appointments or begin treatment – which often involves injecting drugs directly into the eye – before it is absolutely necessary. The device also makes the diagnosis and monitoring of a range of treatable retinal diseases more affordable and accessible by compressing a tabletop-worth of heavy, expensive, and fragile components onto a single chip smaller than a £1 coin.

Dr Alasdair Price, CEO of Siloton, said: “Imaging patients’ retinas is a massive step forward and puts us at the forefront of companies developing this type of device. It is the first time anyone has successfully captured a retinal image of a patient using a photonic chip, proving that the technology can identify eye disease and the process is repeatable, with results achieved at a comparable speed to existing approaches.

“Having access to a device like this at home or in the community could be a game-changer not only for diagnosis but also for checking the progress of ocular conditions. It will prevent any significant changes being picked up too late and accurately tell patients whether they have reached the point of requiring eye injections, which can be an unpleasant experience that many patients would prefer to avoid as long as possible.”

Cathy Mansfield-Smith, who was the first patient to trial Siloton’s technology, said: “I am thrilled to be the first individual in the world with an eye condition to have my eye imaged with this new technology. I greatly enjoyed visiting Siloton, meeting the team, and learning about their new approach. As an individual with wet AMD living rurally, I can particularly understand how this technology will make managing my condition less burdensome for me and my family. Any opportunity to maintain the quality of care I receive while making fewer trips to hospital would be a game-changer."

Ocular conditions such as AMD, retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic macular oedema affect around 400 million people – around 5% of the world’s population – putting them at risk of blindness. AMD is the largest cause of sight loss in the UK, affecting more than 700,000 people and during 2023 the NHS reported that ophthalmology accounted for almost 10% of its waiting list.

It is estimated that Siloton’s technology could save the NHS more than £1 billion annually. The company is currently undertaking a fundraising round, building on the £1.7 million secured to date.

Dr Alasdair Price added: “Having de-risked and proven the technology, we now plan to further improve the quality of the imaging and push forward with the product development process. In the first instance, we will target the US market and Food and Drug Administration approval, which will open the door to a range of other exciting opportunities, including in Europe and the UK.”