For years, biomedical engineer Samantha Scott battled fatigue, dizziness and fainting spells without a diagnosis. Then she got a retinal scan during a routine visit to her optometrist. They spotted an irregularity, which led to the discovery she has neurocardiogenic syncope, a rare nervous system disorder that disrupts blood flow in the body.
The scan saved her life. It also inspired her to make retinal screenings more accessible.
“I started JuneBrain because I was at least set on the correct path to a neuro diagnosis by an eye doctor,” Scott said. “The idea that you can take something that’s a rare disorder like I have, and actually diagnose it in an eye setting, that really struck me.”
The eye is a window into the brain, and with JuneBrain’s Neuro-i headset, physicians can help detect early signs of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and heart disease. The device works by performing an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan, the same test used during a routine eye exam, but in a smaller, portable package. According to The Vision Council, nearly four in 10 U.S. optometrists don’t have OCT imaging equipment in their offices — a gap Scott hopes to close.
“The goal is to move it into point-of-care settings, where everyday people are, where it’s easy for them to get to, so now it opens up the door for other types of providers to have access to the technology,” said Scott.
Watch the video above to see how the JuneBrain team is working to bring the headset to your local doctor’s office.
