This product has been transferred to the responsibility of the Deutsches Blindenhilfswerk and will no longer be distributed by us.
〰️
This product has been transferred to the responsibility of the Deutsches Blindenhilfswerk and will no longer be distributed by us. 〰️
PANO
The affordable solution for visual field analysis
PANO is a new and sensitive visual field testing device for the detection of early glaucoma and glaucoma progression. It is cost-effective, robust and easy to use.
As a product of an international research collaboration led by the University Medical Center Mainz, Germany – a world-renowned reference center for Glaucoma – and supported by the German Aid Organisation for the Blind (DBHW) and the International Section of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) this product was developed on a non-profit basis.
PANO (PAttern NOise) does not use a brightness stimulus but a 15Hz flicker pattern. The contrast of this flicker pattern is the variable test parameter for each visual field location. The pixel size of the pattern varies according to the spatial resolution of the human eye, i.e. it increases from the centre to the periphery.
Cost-effective
PANO is a practical and sensitive, yet affordable visual field device that meets the financial and structural requirements of ophthalmic institutions in low-income countries. It is designed to be robust and for damaged parts to be easily replaceable.
Sensitive and reduced testing time
The contrast-based stimulus was developed with several new features using the latest research in the pathophysiology of visual field defects. A smart algorithm reduces testing time to ensure a good patient collaboration and a 24-2 testing pattern facilitates the comparison with other perimeters.
Easy to operate and interpret
PANO is optimized for easy operation. A test mode prior to the examination ensures a proper patient comprehension. Additional software is provided for progression analysis and for study purposes.
References:
el-Khoury, S., Hannen, T., Dragnea, D. C., Ngounou, F., & Preußner, P. R. (2018). Pattern noise (PANO): a new automated functional glaucoma test. International Ophthalmology, 38(5), 1993-2003.
Hannen, T., El-Khoury, S., Patel, R., Ngounou, F., Preußner, P.R. (2021). Comparison of the Automated Pattern–Noise (PANO) Glaucoma Test with the HFA, an FDT Stimulus, and the Fundus Area Cup-to-disk Ratio. Journal of Current Glaucoma Practice, Volume 15 Issue 3 (September–December 2021).
Structure and components
The PANO hardware consists of a basic device and a standard laptop. The shape of the base is made for the laptop to fit on it. A 4dpt lens corrects for far-vision. This lens is inserted into a rotating black plate, which also covers the non-tested eye.
Base unit
The PANO base unit includes a chin rest, a forehead rest and a magnifying lens, which form the interface between the patient and the laptop on which the test program runs.
Laptop-Computer
The hardware component for stimulus presentation is a conventional laptop that can adequately run the PANO software. A commercial PC mouse attached to the laptop is modified to allow for only a left mouse click, which is the motor reaction performed by the patient.
Software
Analysis
The PANO software displays stimuli at 54 possible positions arranged in a configuration that can directly be compared to the 24-2 test procedure on the Humphrey Field Analyzer II.
The picture shows the overall test geometry. It is not an example of a test procedure, but shows all possibilities of test stimuli, pixel sizes and contrast values.
Result evaluation
The values represent the contrast differences. The higher the value, the greater the deficit.
The result sheet shows the mean value, the standard deviation, the errors and the test time as well as the averages of the four quadrants.
„PANO can be an important tool for preventing avoidable blindness caused by glaucoma in low-income countries.“
Demo Video
The device is only distributed to institutions in developing countries on a price covering own costs. There are no costs for the software.
