Foresee PHP®
Foresee PHP®, or Foresee Preferential Hyperacuity Perimeter, is a visual field analyzer used to detect and monitor the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a common eye condition that presents the most serious threat of visual impairment to the aging population. Foresee PHP represents an important step forward in the early detection and treatment of this dangerous disease. It is the only device that has been FDA-approved to measure macular function and assess the advancement of AMD during its earliest stages, when it may progress from its intermediate, dry stage to its more serious wet (choroidal neovascularization or CNV) stage.
Benefits of Foresee PHP
There are a number of benefits to the use of Foresee for patients at high risk for developing wet AMD. First and foremost, Foresee PHP enables such patients to take a proactive approach to their own health care. This innovative device offers:
- Medical detection and diagnosis of wet AMD at its earliest stage
- The ability for the patient to self-monitor vision at home
- Clinical detection of even minor visual changes
The ability for the patient to use Foresee PHP at home is important both medically and emotionally. Not only does it make more frequent diagnostic examinations possible, it provides patients with the reassurance that comes with the ability to be involved in protecting their own vision. The Foresee PHP visual test takes only 3 to 5 minutes to perform. Since it is capable of identifying the lesions of wet AMD even before the patient experiences symptoms, when coupled with dilated eye examinations, the Foresee PHP test maximized the chances of early detection and prompt treatment.
The Foresee PHP Procedure
Foresee PHP detects age-related macular degeneration by monitoring any changes in the central area of the vision, a key component of wet AMD. The technology used by Foresee PHP is based on the phenomenon of hyperacuity (Vernier acuity), defined as the ability to detect the misalignment of two objects relative to one another in spatial locations.
Through simple non-invasive screening, a number of linear dot patterns are displayed on a screen, only a few of them misaligned. Patients are asked to touch the screen with a plastic pointer to areas of distortion they perceive in the pattern. By analyzing any pathological distortions in the patient's perception, the ophthalmologist is able to detect whether the patient has wet AMD. Amazingly, this analysis takes only about 15 minutes to complete.
Regular testing with Foresee PHP is recommended for patients who have been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration because with close monitoring and prompt treatment, permanent damage can be avoided. Once the doctor has detected AMD, medication or laser surgery may be recommended, depending on the individual patient's condition.