Early disease detection remains a cornerstone of modern healthcare strategy, yet access to diagnostic equipment remains constrained by cost, space, and portability barriers in many clinical settings. Occuity, a Medical Technology company founded in 2019, is addressing this challenge by developing handheld optical screening devices that measure eye parameters with high precision, shifting diagnostic capability away from traditional desktop equipment and into portable clinical workflows.
The company launched its PM1 Pachymeter in September 2024, a handheld device designed to measure corneal thickness for early glaucoma detection and monitoring. Glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve through elevated intraocular pressure, causes permanent vision loss if left untreated. Portable corneal measurement represents a step toward accessible screening in mobile clinics, schools, and resource-constrained settings where bulky equipment with chin rests and alignment systems cannot be deployed.
Expanding Measurement Capability Beyond Corneal Thickness
Occuity plans to launch the AX1 Axiometer in 2026, a second-generation device targeting axial myopia, a condition caused by abnormally large axial eye lengths. In children especially, unmanaged myopia increases risk of serious complications including retinal detachment and glaucoma later in life. The AX1 will measure corneal curvature and axial eye parameters with unprecedented handheld precision, achieving accuracy within plus or minus 25 micrometers, a capability not previously available in portable form.
The design philosophy behind both devices reflects a deliberate shift in clinical engineering. Rather than requiring patients to position their eyes against fixed apparatus, the handheld format reduces training burden on operators and removes space constraints that limit deployment. Dr. Dan Daly, Chief Executive Officer of Occuity, describes the approach: “PM1 and AX1 are built on the same platform, but with AX1 we have developed additional systems that allow us to measure the front and back of the eye concurrently.”
This concurrent measurement capability addresses a practical workflow gap. Traditional desktop axiometers require separate instruments or multiple patient repositionings. Consolidating front and back eye measurements into a single handheld device reduces examination time and complexity, factors that matter significantly in high-volume screening environments or settings where patient throughput directly affects access to care.
Using The Eye As A Diagnostic Window
The strategic foundation of Occuity’s platform rests on a principle that extends beyond ophthalmology: the eye offers measurable indicators of systemic disease. Corneal thickness correlates with intraocular pressure and glaucoma risk. Axial length relates to myopia progression and associated retinal pathology. By standardizing measurement of these parameters in portable, user-friendly form, Occuity positions itself at the intersection of point-of-care diagnostics and preventive screening.
This approach aligns with broader healthcare trends emphasizing early intervention. Systemic disease diagnosis and treatment remain major health challenges globally, and experts across medical specialties agree that early detection improves outcomes and reduces overall healthcare burden. Portable, non-invasive screening devices reduce barriers to access, particularly in underserved regions where specialized ophthalmology services may be geographically distant or economically inaccessible.
Technology Integration And Clinical Workflow Design
The engineering underpinning these devices draws on precision measurement technologies, including advanced encoder systems that enable accurate optical measurement in compact form factors. This integration of precision motion control and optical measurement represents a refinement in medical device engineering, where miniaturization does not necessarily compromise accuracy. The PM1 already demonstrates this principle in clinical use following its September 2024 launch.
Portable ophthalmic devices also reduce dependence on patient compliance for complex procedures. A patient who travels to a specialist clinic requiring 45 minutes of preparation and positioning represents higher dropout risk and throughput challenges than a 5-minute handheld screening in a school or primary care setting. This practical shift has implications for population-level screening capacity, particularly for conditions like myopia, where early detection in school-age children shapes long-term visual outcomes.
Regulatory Pathway And Market Readiness
The PM1’s September 2024 launch indicates that Occuity has navigated regulatory approval and commercial manufacturing for its first product. The planned 2026 launch of the AX1 suggests the company is scaling manufacturing while extending its product line. Both timelines suggest confidence in regulatory acceptance and market demand, though specific approval routes and cleared indications remain subject to jurisdiction-specific regulatory frameworks.
Device manufacturers pursuing portable screening solutions face tradeoffs between miniaturization, accuracy, ease of use, and cost. Occuity’s dual-product strategy, with PM1 in the market and AX1 planned, allows the company to establish clinical evidence and user feedback from the simpler pachymeter before launching the more complex axiometer. This phased approach reduces launch risk and provides time to refine manufacturing processes and clinical training materials.
Handheld optical screening represents a narrower but meaningful segment of the broader Digital Health and point-of-care diagnostics market. Success depends on clinical adoption, reimbursement support, and sustained technological refinement. The next measurement of progress will come from real-world adoption data following the AX1 launch, when clinical evidence can demonstrate whether portable measurement drives earlier detection, improved patient outcomes, or expanded screening capacity in underserved settings.
