North East medical innovator PolyPhotonix has secured NHS backing for its specialist sleep mask that is used to prevent and treat the leading cause of blindness in Europe.
The Sedgefield-based firm's Noctura 400 mask - which has been some years in development - has been adopted by Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust, where research has shown its effectiveness in improving and stabilising diabetic eye disease in 96% of patients. And the move has been hailed as great news for patients and the NHS alike.
PolyPhotonix says the device, which earned a $10m investment from US backers PrevailWorks earlier this year, has the potential to save the NHS millions by providing an early stage, non-invasive alternative to current treatments such as eye injections. The medtech developers say it could reduce hospital clinic appointments in a field which costs the NHS and estimated £10bn per year.
