NETRA: Cellphone-based Optometry Solution using Inverse Shack Hartmann Technique, from MIT Media Lab

[otissumnerbrown]

The last exam that I was involved with cost $430. With intelligent use, this method, and your own trial-lens kit can produce an accurate measurement of the natural eye's refractive STATE. Enjoy.

[mizikal]

I am an optician and I think this is pretty neat. However, I will still need an RX from your eye Doctor to make you glasses.You can pay what you want for this but I will not make you glasses off of what your cell phone tells you. Besides an exam is not just about glasses. The Dr checks the health of the eye during the exam. This also will not work for contact lens wearers.

[psymansays]

Could this be ported to work on a PC? Linux? Please? I've been unable to afford to update my prescription for several years, and my current pair of glasses are nearly 10 years old! They're so scratched up...

[ostate55]

When will this device and app be available to the public?

[cameraculturegroup]

Pl read the FAQ for the project. web.media.mit.edu/~pamplona/NE­TRA/

What netra does not do?

It does not replace your optometrist.

It does not use the camera in your cell phone.

It is not simply a reading chart on your cell phone display.

[p0rt1337]

Also if people start using this INSTEAD of having regular eye checks, then more and more people may risk sight threatening conditions. People forget that an eye test not only checks your visual acuity, but also a full health check of the back of the ye and surrounding structures.

The tool has some merits for developing countries, but should not be used as an alternative to a proper eye test where possible, just for the sake of saving a few quid!

[psymansays]

@p0rt1337 Whatever, man. Some of us work hard for not much pay, and when it comes to either putting food on the table or $100 in an optometrist's pocket, well, guess what's gonna happen. Besides, the large group of people who don't require prescription glasses don't have to see an optometrist all the time, and they don't have any higher incidence of eye problems from not paying some yuppie in a lab coat every year or two.

[mizikal]

@psymansays an eye exam in my office is $43.00 and I can make glasses for as low as $45.00 . You cannot afford to spend $100.00 every two or three years? People tell me that all the time and I don't understand it. I don't make very good money but I can afford that.

[p0rt1337]

The problem with this is that it does not "binocularly balance" the eyes. Therefore there is a risk of a muscle imbalance if specs are made in this fashion, causing stains and headaches, especially for near vision tasks.

[jackfucker1]

@1:53 stupid indian accent, iHate those

still nice lil thing , apple can do that ass well . . . my ass

[zenimus]

Wow!! That's really cool!

[zepass]

ok good, but how many times a day u wanna test ur eyes????

[AlphaSphere]

Would love to have this at home to test my eyesight!

[vfpamp]

Test

[demlasjr]

I think is totally useless, because is big, you will use one time, after the fist use, why would you use it again ? You don't need to check each day your eyes. Maybe for ophthalmologists will be useful, but for the rest no. My opinion.

[stevengu13]

@demlasjr for developing country.

[ndawg25]

@demlasjr

I wouldn't mind testing my eyesight once every few months for cheap considering a trip to the optometrist can cost at least $50

[demlasjr]

@ndawg25 I'm not sure this gadget is free :)